Scientist - Mammalian Cell Culture

GTT•South San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative contract scientist to join an R&D imaging and image analysis team supporting research programs across multiple therapeutic and functional areas. The team operates a high-content imaging core and partners with R&D scientists to develop and execute imaging-based assays that enable quantitative cellular research. The scientist will contribute to core imaging activities and collaborative research projects, including studies of immune synapse formation and other cell-cell interactions relevant to T-cell engager research. The role requires strong hands-on mammalian cell culture, cellular assay development, and sample preparation skills. Microscopy and image analysis experience are important, though extensive high-content imaging or specialized imaging expertise is not required. Training will be provided on the two automated Opera Phenix high-content imaging systems and their associated workflows. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful experimentalist who can generate high-quality biological samples and assays, troubleshoot independently, collaborate effectively, and is eager to develop further expertise in imaging and quantitative biology. This is a 12-month contract with potential to extend depending on business need. It is fully onsite at the South San Francisco site, five days per week, with no hybrid or remote work. Applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Doctorate degree, or a master's degree and 2 years of relevant experience, or a bachelor's degree and 4 years of relevant experience.
Strong hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and cell-based assays.
Strong experimental skills, including excellent sterile technique, attention to experimental quality and reproducibility, and ability to troubleshoot cell-based assays.
Experience developing, optimizing, or executing cellular assays and preparing samples for microscopy or other quantitative readouts.
Understanding of how cell density, timing, treatments, staining, controls, and sample handling affect assay performance and data quality.
Hands-on experience with fluorescence microscopy and at least one image analysis platform or approach, such as Fiji/ImageJ, Imaris, CellProfiler, commercial imaging software, or custom computational workflows.
Experience with immunofluorescence staining, live-cell imaging, or other microscopy sample-preparation techniques.

Nice To Haves

A degree in cell biology, immunology, bioengineering, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline.
Experience working with primary cells, immune cells, or co-culture systems.
Experience with co-culture assays or cell-cell interaction assays.
Experience with high-content imaging platforms such as the Opera Phenix.
Experience with automated laboratory workflows, robotic plate handling, or screening environments.
Familiarity with Fiji/ImageJ, Imaris, CellProfiler, Harmony, or related image analysis tools.
Programming experience in Python, R, MATLAB, or similar environments.
Interest in quantitative imaging and willingness to learn new imaging and analysis technologies.

Responsibilities

Maintain mammalian cell cultures and prepare cells and samples for imaging experiments.
Develop, optimize, and execute image-based cellular assays, including co-culture and cell-cell interaction assays.
Perform fluorescence microscopy and automated imaging experiments.
Support collaborative imaging studies across R&D, from experimental design and sample preparation through image acquisition and analysis.
Develop and apply quantitative image analysis workflows using tools such as Fiji/ImageJ, Imaris, high-content analysis software, or other computational approaches.
Analyze, interpret, document, and communicate experimental results.
Contribute to research focused on immune synapses, cell-cell contacts, and imaging-based approaches relevant to T-cell engager research.
Assist with operation and routine maintenance of automated high-content imaging instrumentation, including Opera Phenix systems and associated automation.
Troubleshoot imaging, assay, and sample-preparation issues and work with team members to identify practical solutions.
Help maintain robust and reproducible imaging workflows, protocols, and documentation.
Support and, with experience, help train scientists using imaging instrumentation and analysis tools.
Work collaboratively with imaging scientists, biologists, and project teams across different areas of R&D.
Learn and adopt new microscopy, automation, assay-development, and image-analysis technologies as needed.