Scientist III, Recombinant Protein Process Development
About The Position
As a Scientist III on the Recombinant Proteins R&D team at Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will provide technical leadership in developing and optimizing microbial fermentation and recombinant protein expression processes for cytokines, growth factors, and related proteins. The portfolio is primarily produced in E. coli, with opportunities to support products made using mammalian and insect-cell expression systems. You will improve established fermentation processes, resolve complex expression and production challenges, and independently develop upstream strategies that support product development and reliable manufacturing. This hands-on laboratory role combines independent project ownership, scientific problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration. You will use rigorous experimental design and data analysis to improve expression, yield, consistency, and process robustness, working closely with downstream purification scientists to understand how fermentation conditions affect protein recovery, quality, biological activity, and overall process performance. You will maintain laboratory documentation and support development of processes and records suitable for future GMP manufacturing.
Requirements
- Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related life sciences discipline.
- Progressive experience in microbial fermentation, recombinant protein expression, and upstream process development: typically 7+ years with a Bachelor's degree, 5+ years with a Master's degree, or 0–2 years with a Ph.D.
- Hands-on experience developing and optimizing E. coli fermentation in laboratory-scale bioreactors, including control of pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, feeding, and induction.
- Experience troubleshooting recombinant protein expression and improving expression levels, product yield, protein solubility, and fermentation consistency.
- Experience designing fermentation experiments, evaluating process performance, and developing, optimizing, scaling, or transferring upstream production processes.
- Working knowledge of recombinant protein recovery and downstream purification, including cell disruption, clarification, inclusion-body recovery, and chromatography.
- Experience with analytical techniques for recombinant protein expression and quality, including SDS-PAGE, protein quantification assays, and other biochemical or protein characterization methods.
- Experience planning experiments, analyzing data, troubleshooting processes, maintaining rigorous laboratory documentation, and communicating technical conclusions.
- Strong scientific judgment, technical independence, project ownership, analytical and problem-solving ability, attention to detail, scientific rigor, commitment to data integrity and laboratory safety, and effective communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with GMP principles and documentation requirements.
- Experience with recombinant protein purification, automated chromatography systems, protein refolding, or integrated upstream and downstream process optimization.
Responsibilities
- Design, execute, and evaluate small- to medium-scale E. coli fermentation experiments for recombinant protein production.
- Develop fermentation strategies and optimize established processes, including media composition, feeding, induction, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and other critical parameters.
- Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory-scale bioreactor systems and related instrumentation for fermentation development, characterization, and scale-up.
- Evaluate cell growth, substrate utilization, protein expression, product yield, and other process and product quality attributes.
- Collaborate with downstream purification scientists to assess upstream effects on cell harvest, protein recovery, solubility, impurities, purification efficiency, and process performance.
- Perform or support protein recovery and purification, including cell disruption, clarification, inclusion-body isolation, and chromatography.
- Design experiments, analyze and interpret data, identify root causes, and recommend scientifically supported actions to advance projects and improve robustness.
- Maintain accurate laboratory records, prepare technical reports, and support development of processes and documentation suitable for future GMP manufacturing.
- Communicate findings through technical summaries, presentations, and discussions with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Product Management, Regulatory, and other partners.
- Provide technical leadership within project teams, mentor less experienced scientists, and contribute to evaluating and implementing technologies, methods, and workflows.
Benefits
- Choice of national medical and dental plans and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
- At least 120 hours of paid time off and 10 paid holidays annually.
- Paid parental leave: 3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave.
- Accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
- Competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan offering eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
- Variable annual bonus eligibility based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy.
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
Senior
