Lab Director

About Lumenara Health

Lumenara Health is an early-stage diagnostics company focused on advancing blood-based approaches for earlier disease detection. We work at the intersection of analytical chemistry, biology, and data science to generate high-quality molecular data that supports translational and clinical research.

• Location:
  
  Phoenix, AZ (in-person)
• Employment Type:
  
  Full-time

This role will begin embedded in an academic research lab environment and will transition into leading Lumenara’s own dedicated wet lab as we bring key capabilities in-house. This is a rare opportunity to build the lab function from the ground up – from protocol rigor and reproducibility to infrastructure, SOPs, and team foundations – while working on cutting‑edge diagnostics with direct clinical relevance.

• Experimental Execution & Oversight
  • Execute and oversee mass spectrometry experiments within and in collaboration with an academic partner lab
  • Ensure experiments are conducted consistently and according to Lumenara-defined protocols
  • Monitor data quality, reproducibility, and instrument performance
  • Troubleshoot experimental and operational issues as they arise
  • Maintain clear documentation of procedures, changes, and outcomes
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with broader technical team to align experimental design with downstream analysis
  • Serve as Lumenara’s primary on-site scientific representative within the partner lab environment
  • Communicate progress, risks, and findings clearly to internal stakeholders
• Lab Operations & Future Build‑Out
  • Contribute to planning for Lumenara’s future internal laboratory, including workflow design and operational needs
  • Help establish standard operating procedures, quality controls, and lab best practices
  • Support the transition of selected workflows from partner labs into Lumenara’s own facilities over time
  • Assist with vendor interactions, equipment planning, and operational readiness as needed

• Required
  • PhD or equivalent experience in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, metabolomics, or a related field
  • Strong hands‑on experience with liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry (LC‑MS), including targeted and/or untargeted applications
  • Demonstrated ability to execute experiments with a high degree of rigor and reproducibility
  • Comfort working in collaborative academic or shared lab environments
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Preferred Experience
  • Working across both academic and industry or startup settings
  • Managing efforts across translational, clinical, or regulated laboratory environments
  • Contributing to the setup or scaling of laboratory operations
  • Working with data‑driven or machine learning‑enabled analysis of high‑dimensional biological data
  • Interpreting complex LC‑MS datasets, including exploratory analysis and characterization of previously unannotated or unknown features
  • Leading and long‑term ownership of lab functions