Research Scientist – Molecular Biology
About The Position
Kite, a Gilead company, is a leader in engineered cell therapies focused on developing innovative cancer treatments. We are seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to join the Molecular Biology group to support the design, generation, and evaluation of genetic constructs for engineered T cell therapies, including CAR-based modalities. This is a laboratory-based, execution-focused role requiring strong technical expertise in molecular and cell biology. The successful candidate will contribute to construct generation, assay execution, and data analysis, while progressively developing independence in experimental design and planning. This role contributes to the generation of high-quality constructs and datasets that enable data-driven improvements in engineered T cell therapies, and provides opportunities to build expertise in construct design, scalable workflows, and expression biology within a collaborative research environment.
Requirements
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Virology, or related field OR MS with 2+ years, or BS with 4+ years of relevant industry experience
- Demonstrated hands-on expertise in molecular biology and cell-based assay execution
- Strong experience with: Molecular cloning and DNA assembly methods, PCR and site-directed mutagenesis, Plasmid design and sequence analysis, DNA design tools (e.g., Geneious, SnapGene, or similar)
- Proficiency in: Flow cytometry, ddPCR and/or qPCR, Western blotting
- Experience with mammalian cell culture and transfection
- Ability to independently execute well-defined experiments with strong attention to detail
Nice To Haves
- Experience with viral vector systems, particularly lentiviral platforms
- Exposure to T cell biology or cell therapy applications
- Familiarity with transgene expression design (e.g., regulatory elements, RNA features)
- Experience with laboratory automation and liquid handling systems
- Exposure to RNA structure prediction tools (e.g., NuFold, RhoFold, or similar)
- Experience with microscopy for protein expression analysis
- Familiarity with laboratory data systems (e.g., Benchling, Biovia, or similar)
- Exposure to computational or AI-assisted tools for sequence design or workflow automation
- Publication record demonstrating scientific rigor and contribution to research
Responsibilities
- Execute end-to-end cloning workflows to generate DNA constructs (e.g., CARs and engineered proteins) using manual and automated approaches, with attention to scalability and reproducibility
- Perform core molecular biology techniques, including: PCR and DNA assembly (e.g., Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate, In-Fusion), Site-directed mutagenesis, Plasmid preparation and sequence verification
- Apply established design principles related to vector architecture, coding sequence optimization, and protein domain organization
- Identify and implement improvements to throughput, robustness, and scalability, including use of automated liquid handling systems
- Maintain high standards for experimental rigor, documentation, and data quality
- Support lentiviral vector-based workflows for T cell engineering
- Execute and analyze assays including: Flow cytometry (expression and phenotype), ddPCR / qPCR (e.g., vector copy number, transcript levels), Western blotting (protein expression and integrity)
- Perform mammalian cell transfection
- Troubleshoot experimental challenges independently, escalating when appropriate
- Analyze experimental data to assess construct performance and identify trends
- Contribute to iterative improvement of construct designs and experimental workflows
- Maintain well-organized datasets to support reproducibility and cross-project learning
- Work effectively in a highly matrixed, cross-functional environment
- Partner with scientists across teams to support construct design strategies and project execution
- Clearly communicate experimental plans, results, and technical challenges
- Adapt quickly to evolving priorities in a fast-paced research setting
Benefits
- company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
