I do research assistant work in biology. The best way to get one of these rare jobs is to email the professor directly. They then have a "chat" with you (don't be fooled, this is the formal interview!) and then several weeks later they get around to bypassing the Uni's hiring process and you get a job.
I really am not looking forward to going through a formal interview process, because it will be so jarring compared to what I am used to!
Fwiw I also work in molecular biology and did a recent round of interviews (summer 2020).
Started with applications over a web form on the university careers website, then chatted over email with the hiring manager. Eventually got set up with some interviews with current lab people, and eventually the PI.
Mirrored in industry, although that was back in 2018. So all in all the “regular” route at least for this level of work in biotech/biology is pretty sane.
That being said, I’ve used your method in the past as well to great success, and is one of my secret techniques to get more traction when I’m looking ;)
I really am not looking forward to going through a formal interview process, because it will be so jarring compared to what I am used to!