Associate Scientist

Job Title: Associate Scientist

Location: South San Francisco, CA 94080 (100% Onsite)

Contract Duration: 2 Years (Based on performance and business needs)

Interview Process: 1 Onsite Interview Round (Preferred)

Position Summary

The Associate Scientist I will join the Subculture Process Development team as a entry-to-junior-level scientist supporting cell culture process development and bioprocess innovation projects. The team functions as a non-GMP Research & Development (R&D) laboratory responsible for developing and optimizing scalable cell culture manufacturing processes (primarily for monoclonal antibodies and biologic injectable medicines) before transferring them to GMP production facilities.

This position offers hands-on exposure across multiple development programs—ranging from bench-top shake flasks to pilot-scale 500L bioreactors—and relies heavily on collaborative execution, aseptic operations, routine laboratory maintenance, and cell culture media preparation.

Key Responsibilities

• Cell Culture Media & Buffer Preparation: Hydrate powdered media, perform pH adjustments, sterilize via filtration, and scale up media preparation from small lab batches to multi-hundred-liter quantities to support department-wide projects.
• Routine Aseptic & Bioprocess Operations: Thaw cryopreserved cells, passage mammalian cultures (primarily CHO cells), sample shake flasks and bioreactors, and perform cell banking following established protocols under supervision.
• Bioreactor & Equipment Operation: Assist with the setup, sterile operation, and maintenance of bench-top (2L), automated (Ambr® 250), and pilot-scale bioreactors (50L, 200L, 500L).
• Analytical Measurements: Perform standard analytical measurements for cell growth, culture gas content, pH, osmolality, nutrient/metabolite concentration, and routine HPLC analysis for antibody titers using pre-established methods.
• Laboratory Maintenance & Safety: Maintain laboratory cleanliness, safety standards (BSL-1), instrumentation, and consumables inventory to ensure an efficient, shared working environment.
• Documentation & Communication: Maintain accurate and timely records following Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and effectively communicate experimental methodology, scientific rationale, and results in oral and written formats.
• Weekend Support: Participate in a rotating weekend schedule (typically 1.5–2 hours per session as needed) to monitor active bioreactor runs, feed cell cultures, and collect experimental samples.

Qualifications & Key Requirements

Basic / Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Biological Sciences, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience: 0 to 3 years of hands-on research or industry laboratory experience (Junior-level role; candidates with a Master's degree or >4–5 years of experience may be considered overqualified).
• Core Technical Skill: Strong aseptic technique with a solid understanding of sterile processing and contamination prevention (critical due to antibiotic-free media preparation).
• Environment & Physical Demands:
• Ability to work onsite in a BSL-1 shared-space laboratory environment.
• Comfortable standing, walking, and extending arms into biosafety cabinets for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs (primarily associated with media preparation and cart-to-bench transfers; assistance is available).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Cell Culture Experience: Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture (specifically Chinese Hamster Ovary / CHO cell lines); candidates with bacterial cell culture experience will also be considered.
• Media Preparation: Hands-on experience preparing cell culture media (hydration, pH balancing, sterile filtration).
• Bioprocess & Bioreactor Tools: Familiarity with single-use cell culture tools (deep-well plates, shake flasks, ambr® 250, or conventional bench-top stirred-tank bioreactors).
• Instrumentation: Experience operating standard analytical equipment, such as Vi-CELL, Blood Gas Analyzers (BGA), Cedex Bio, or Protein A HPLC titer systems.
• Automation / Software: Basic familiarity with programming concepts (logic workflows/loops) to assist with automated systems (e.g., Ambr® 250) or software tools (MS Office, JMP, Python, VBA, R) is a plus, but not required.

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