Biologist

Position Summary

As a Scientist in Cell Engineering and Assay Development, you will engineer novel cell lines and develop in vitro assays to characterize them in support of allogeneic cell therapy programs. This role involves designing genetic constructs and mRNA, generating engineered cell lines using viral vectors and transient mRNA-based expression, and building cell-based assays to evaluate engineered cell function. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to advance cell therapy programs from discovery through preclinical development.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or a related field, with 5 years of relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, or academic research; OR
• Master's degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or a related field, with 2 years of relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, or academic research.
• Hands-on experience with lentiviral cell line generation is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engineering iPSCs and tumor cell lines.
• Proficiency in construct design and mRNA design.
• Experience with cell engineering using viral vectors and transient mRNA-based expression.
• In-depth expertise in flow cytometry, including panel design, cell sorting (FACS), and multi-parameter data analysis.
• Working knowledge of immune checkpoint receptor biology.
• Experience with live-cell analysis platforms such as Incucyte and xCELLigence.
• Proficiency in developing in vitro cell-based assays using human cell lines and primary cells.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and engineer novel cell lines in iPSCs, tumor cell lines, and other immortalized and primary cell types to support allogeneic cell therapy programs.
• Generate stable engineered cell lines using lentiviral transduction and other viral vector systems.
• Design genetic constructs and mRNA for stable and transient gene expression, including knock-in, knockout, and reporter strategies.
• Perform transient mRNA-based expression to rapidly prototype and validate cell engineering strategies.
• Establish clonal engineered cell lines through cell sorting (FACS) and single-cell cloning.
• Develop, optimize, and execute cell-based assays to characterize engineered cells, including live-cell analysis on the Incucyte platform.
• Design and execute multi-parameter flow cytometry panels to phenotype engineered cells and assess immune checkpoint receptor expression.
• Evaluate the functional impact of genetic modifications on engineered cell phenotype and function.
• Design and perform experiments, analyze data, and interpret results to assess engineered cell performance in vitro.
• Effectively communicate experimental findings through written reports and oral presentations.
• Demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to learn and apply new technologies in cell engineering and assay development.