Scientist 1, Vector Engineering

Gordian Biotechnology•South San Francisco, CA

1d•$112,000 - $168,000

About The Position

The Scientist 1, Vector Engineering role turns scientific questions and strategic goals into experimental plans, executes the work, interprets data, and makes evidence-based recommendations. The scientist will launch and lead a serotype screen for a new heart project within the first two months, then own an independent project within the team’s effort to move key serotypes into suspension production. The broader team goal is to make more than 25% of AAV production suspension-based by Q2 2027. The role provides hands-on support for AAV production and ex vivo assays across Gordian programs. Work includes adherent and suspension AAV production using HEK293 culture, transfections, and harvests; purification by iodixanol ultracentrifugation and FPLC; and established ex vivo assays. The scientist calculates AAV requirements, forecasts media, orders reagents, maintains excellent electronic laboratory notebook records, and owns assigned vector-team areas. Approximately 20% of the week is dedicated to improvement and discovery projects alongside production and assay delivery. The scientist troubleshoots failed runs and assays using controls, batch records, and scientific principles; brings methods from the literature into the organization; prioritizes work; and coordinates with teams that depend on the materials. The position is expected to produce AAV independently within the first month, with the first project launching between weeks four and eight. The stated milestones include independently executing production workflows within one month; independently performing iodixanol and FPLC purification and launching the heart-project screen by two months; completing, analyzing, presenting, and documenting the screen by three months; and owning an independent suspension-production project by six months.

Requirements

PhD in molecular biology, cell biology, or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
Molecular and cell biology understanding sufficient to explain experimental choices and interpret results.
Strong mammalian cell culture skills, accurate pipetting, and reliable sample handling.
Experience learning and independently executing non-trivial laboratory protocols.
Ability to maintain complete laboratory records and traceable data with close attention to detail.
Experience taking a defined scientific project from an agreed goal and plan through execution, troubleshooting, analysis, and a supported conclusion.
Ability to design appropriate controls, use literature to select methods, anticipate failure modes, distinguish technical failures from biological results, and justify follow-up experiments.
Experience handling multiple workflows or projects at once and clearly communicating dependencies to the people relying on the work.
Scientific judgment, resourcefulness in an early-stage startup environment, comfort with ambiguity, and willingness to perform hands-on bench work.

Nice To Haves

Prior AAV purification experience, especially iodixanol ultracentrifugation or FPLC.
Wet-lab experience with qPCR, Western blot, SDS-PAGE, or transfection.
Experience with FPLC, TFF, depth filtration, or related flow systems.
Previous work with AAV, lentivirus, or gene therapy.

Responsibilities

Translate strategic scientific goals into experimental plans, including controls, readouts, schedules, materials, and anticipated failure modes.
Independently perform adherent and suspension AAV production, including HEK293 culture, transfections, and harvests.
Purify AAV using iodixanol ultracentrifugation and FPLC.
Perform established ex vivo assays and troubleshoot routine production and assay failures.
Launch, lead, execute, troubleshoot, analyze, and present the serotype screen for the new heart project; recommend serotypes or follow-up experiments based on the evidence.
Own an independent project in the team’s suspension-production conversion effort, with limited guidance, and propose and validate follow-up work.
Calculate AAV requirements for program requests and communicate progress, risks, and handoffs to requesting teams.
Forecast media weekly and order routine reagents; maintain assigned vector-team areas to prevent lapses and reagent outages.
Maintain complete ELN records and traceable data, and document methods, results, decisions, conclusions, and next steps so work can be reproduced.
Use controls, batch records, first principles, and literature to diagnose failures, select methods, distinguish technical failure from biological results, and justify next experiments.
Coordinate concurrent workflows and projects and communicate dependencies to stakeholders.