What are the responsibilities and job description for the Process Development Associate I - PRISM Cell Pooling position at Broad Institute?
The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard is seeking an outstanding candidate for the position of Process Development Associate I within the PRISM team, a component of the Cancer Program. Dedicated to transforming medicine, the Broad Institute works to significantly accelerate the understanding and treatment of disease. As part of this important mission of the Broad, the Cancer Program is advancing the understanding of oncology therapeutics through the systematic profiling of oncology therapeutics using the PRISM technology of large-scale screening of more than 900 cell lines.
To support our mission, we are looking for a motivated and high-energy individual to join the PRISM team to manage daily, large-scale tissue culture production. By leveraging the PRISM technology, we routinely screen over 900 DNA-barcoded cell lines against hundreds of therapies in a pooled format, achieving much greater speed than conventional cell line screening methods. The true capability of PRISM stems from our deep understanding of the baseline and functional genomic characteristics of these cell lines from the Cancer Dependency Map. Each test agent evaluated yields not only viability data but also extensive genomic correlations and multivariate analyses, offering a comprehensive view of drug behavior.
The chosen candidate will be vital to the upkeep of our cell lines and cell line pools, with primary responsibilities centered on supporting scientific research through routine cell culture and molecular biology operations. This Process Development Associate I role necessitates the routine culture of at least 30 cell lines concurrently.
Responsibilities include combining 25 cell lines to generate the pools utilized in our screening processes, maintaining our cell bank of 1,000 cell lines, and plating cell pools for our large-scale screening efforts. Applicants must possess a background in cell culture alongside exemplary aseptic techniques, and uphold high quality standards through precise lab documentation and adherence to standard operating procedures. Strong communication skills are crucial for success within this collaborative team environment.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage cell culture for up to 30 cell lines simultaneously to generate PRISM pools
- Maintain our cell bank of 1000 cell lines, including barcoding new cell lines, creating new freezer stocks of cell lines, and regularly updating inventories/databases
- Execute large-scale cell plating for production screens
- Conduct molecular biology protocols and related quality control assays on cell lines, including PCR, DNA/RNA extraction, gel electrophoresis for mycoplasma testing, sequence submission, and STR testing sample shipments
- Execute CTG cell viability assays as needed
- Maintain comprehensive lab records, experimental write-ups, and processing notes using an electronic lab notebook (eLabNext)
- Prepare and maintain stocks of reagents, solutions, and lab supplies and manage inventories
- Perform routine maintenance on lab equipment to ensure optimal equipment functionality (e.g. plate washers, combi liquid dispensers, etc)
- Maintain and update SOPs to accurately reflect any changes in production protocols
- Assess the quality of PRISM cell pools utilizing an internal data visualization tool
- Participate in team meetings to share results, plan projects, and ensure alignment with current team goals
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- BS/BA in Biology, Biomedical Engineering or related fields
- 1 year experience in a biological research environment, additional experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique is preferred
- Experience with basic molecular biology techniques, including PCR, DNA extractions, etc
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to effectively work as part of a team
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills, including the ability to handle a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Strong attention to detail, time management skills, and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation
The Broad Institute will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.