The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children (later, the Forsyth Institute), to provide dental care to the disadvantaged children of Boston. While continuing to serve children in need, yet recognizing the ultimate goal is to prevent dental disease, the Institute in 1915 began to focus on scientific research and is today the world’s leader in oral health research. In October of 2023, the Institute joined with the American Dental Association to form the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to improving people’s oral and overall health and powering the profession of dentistry through cutting-edge basic research, creative translational science, innovative clinical technologies, and global public health outreach. Consistent with the Institute’s founding mission, the ADA ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.   

ADA Forsyth, an independent not-for-profit research organization, is located in the Brick bottom District of Somerville, in a newly built life-science building. We are in close walking distance to restaurants, the Community Path, and T & bus routes for easy commuting.    

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate (Bioengineering) to support the development of an innovative point-of-care diagnostic device incorporating CRISPR-based assays. This role will contribute to the design, prototyping, and integration of diagnostic device technologies, including microfluidic systems, optical detection modules, and overall system architecture.

The Research Associate will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, including molecular biologists and assay scientists, to integrate CRISPR chemistry into a functional diagnostic platform. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge diagnostic technology development in a fast-paced research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and optimize microfluidic and integrated device components 
• Integrate fluidics, optics, electronics, and assay chemistry into a cohesive device platform 
• Develop and implement fluorescence-based detection modules 
• Collaborate with molecular biology teams to adapt and optimize assays for device compatibility 
• Troubleshoot device performance, including fluid dynamics, signal detection, and assay integration 
• Analyze experimental data and communicate findings clearly to interdisciplinary teams
   

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 2–3 years of relevant industry experience, OR 
• Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline, OR 
• An equivalent combination of education and experience
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating biochemical or molecular diagnostic assays into engineered platforms 
• Familiarity with CRISPR-based detection systems or nucleic acid amplification technologies 
• Experience with device validation, verification, and technology transfer 
• Working knowledge of molecular biology techniques (e.g., PCR, DNA purification) 
• Experience improving assay robustness and performance within integrated systems 
• Proficiency in Python or R for data analysis and automation 
• Experience with electrical circuit design and CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) for device modeling and prototyping
   

Why Join Us

You will work at the intersection of bioengineering, molecular diagnostics, and device development, contributing to technologies that have the potential to transform point-of-care diagnostics and global health applications.