Associate Scientist, Cell Therapy Discovery

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company • Cambridge, MA

281d • $99,500 - $156,420 • Remote

About The Position

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a Associate Scientist, Cell Therapy Discovery in our Cambridge office. At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world. Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.

Requirements

• MS in relevant field with 3+ years of relevant experience; Or BS with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrable skills in one or more of the following: in vitro/ex vivo immune cell characterization and functional assessment, such as multi-color flow immunophenotyping, multiplex cytokine measurements, cytotoxicity assays, and other molecular-based assays.
• Proficiency in the associated software and analysis packages.
• Proficiency in aseptic cell culture and associated procedures, both of tumor cell lines and of immune cells.
• Basic theoretical knowledge of cell therapy, immunology and cancer biology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, organizational and time-management skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a team.
• Experience with routine and timely documentation using Electronic Lab Notebook platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with assay development involving automation and liquid handling.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and executing functional screens on immune cells.
• Experience with lentiviral transduction and other gene editing/delivery approaches.
• Hands-on experience with CAR-T, CAR-NK, CAR-γδT, and TCR-T cell therapies/immunotherapies, including cell culture, immune cell activation/expansion, and functional evaluation.
• A track record of troubleshooting experimental methods and learning new technologies or scientific backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, or refine in vitro/ex vivo functional assays to improve robustness or dynamic range, enable automation, and drive mechanistic understanding.
• Execute in vitro functional screens using the benchmarked assays.
• Contribute to discovery projects by independently designing and executing well-defined mechanistic experiments and projects within oncology cell therapy research.
• Lead analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data to important partners, and play an active role in the subsequent scientific discussions to drive decisions on the next steps.
• Collaborate in cross-functional, matrix-based project groups to drive specified pipeline programs.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks and follow laboratory practices in compliance.
• Work independently and prioritize work in a fast-paced environment.
• Contribute to IND reports and other technical documents for use across functions/departments.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401(k) plan and company match
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Paid volunteer time off
• Company holidays
• Well-being benefits
• Up to 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
• Accrual of up to 120 hours of paid vacation for new hires

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
• Education Level: Master's degree