Research Officer, Cell Line Development
About The Position
The Human Health Therapeutics Research Center (HHT) has a mandate to support the country's economic development through healthcare innovations, including novel therapies. The research center has a strong track record of collaborations with industry and is a key player in the prosperity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With its primary sector of activity being the biopharmaceutical industry, the portfolio targets Canadian SMEs developing therapeutic products, biologics, or vaccines to address human health needs. As part of the Cell Line Development team, the Research Officer will support NRC, other government departments and industry research activities through technical assistance and facility maintenance at our Royalmount facility in Montreal. The incumbent will be part of a multidisciplinary team, providing essential support for ongoing projects and programs involving our industry partners and other government departments and agencies in the area of biotechnology. The Research Officer in Cell Line Development plays a pivotal role in the creation and optimization of mammalian cell lines used for biologics production. This position bridges molecular biology, cell culture, and bioprocess engineering to ensure robust, high-yielding cell lines that meet regulatory and commercial standards.
Requirements
- PhD in biochemistry or molecular and cellular biology or a field related to the position.
- Significant experience in CHO cell culture techniques, including maintenance, passaging, and cryopreservation, as well as performing stable transfections through electroporation or lipid-based methods and conducting clone selection using GS, DHFR and antibiotic selection marker systems.
- Significant experience in utilizing automation and high-throughput screening platforms for clonal cell line selection and productivity evaluation, employing analytical assays such as ELISA, BLI (Octet/Gator), HTRF and HPLC.
- Significant experience producing monoclonal antibodies or recombinant secreted proteins using transient and stable CHO systems.
- Significant experience in vector design for recombinant protein expression, molecular cloning, plasmid preparation, and sequence verification.
- Significant experience with analytical techniques like SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and flow cytometry.
- Significant experience in data interpretation and troubleshooting of protein expression issues.
- Significant experience maintaining detailed lab notebooks, preparing presentations for stakeholders and preparing technical reports for regulatory submissions.
- Significant experience in industrial research environment.
- Knowledge of standard molecular biology techniques, including PCR, plasmid production, and gene fragment subcloning.
- Knowledge of protein production and expression systems, especially mammalian CHO cell expression.
- Knowledge of cell culture and working under aseptic conditions.
- Knowledge of regulatory requirements for traceability and characterization of cell lines for bioproduction.
- Knowledge of occupational health and safety best practices required to create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment.
- Must be able to work in a laboratory environment in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC).
- Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB
Nice To Haves
- Experience operating and maintaining cell culture equipment.
- Experience in protein purification and analytical characterization, with a focus on assessing product quality attributes such as glycosylation, aggregation, and purity.
Responsibilities
- Develop, adapt and implement novel cell line development processes for biologics or vaccines programs
- Evaluate and implement emerging technologies (e.g., CRISPR, single-cell analysis, automation platforms) to enhance cell line development workflows.
- Find novel solutions to complex protein production problems based on current cutting-edge approaches.
- Participate in and demonstrate leadership in internal and/or client focused projects planning, including the prioritization and identification of the requirements for projects.
- Secure receptors and clients by identifying opportunities, participating in business development activities, and building collaborations with local, national and international organizations. Analyze and identify client requirements and prepare project proposals including estimates of time and budget.
- Collaborate with upstream and downstream teams to ensure cell lines are compatible with scalable bioreactor processes and downstream purification.
- Maintain detailed records of experimental design, results, and protocols in accordance with internal quality level and regulatory guidelines. Produce reports and/or publications on results of research projects.
Benefits
- robust pension plan
- comprehensive health and dental coverage
- disability and life insurance
- office closure at the end of December
- additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond
- Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
