Scientist, Viral Vector Process Development
About The Position
Asimov is seeking a Scientist I/II, Viral Vector Process Development, to conduct lentiviral (LV Edge) and adeno-associated viral (AAV Edge) vector process engineering for gene therapies. The role involves designing complex experiments to improve workflows and systems, coordinating project efforts, and collaborating across Process Development, Viral Vector and Biologics Cell Line Development teams, and external partners. The work focuses primarily on viral vector process engineering, with opportunities to contribute to biologics processes (CHO Edge). The position reports to the Head of Process Development. The scientist will drive projects involving media and feed optimization, bioreactor process development, scale-up and characterization, and analytical assay development. They will support process technology transfer to external partners, improve workflows for cell line characterization, screening and product quality assessment, contribute to clone screening studies, and author and review process development reports and technology transfer protocols. They will also support downstream processing and purification, represent Process Development on cross-functional projects, and communicate project decisions, progress, results and plans. Asimov describes itself as a synthetic biology startup developing a mammalian synthetic biology platform, from cells to software, to enable design and manufacture of next-generation therapeutics. Its mission is to advance the design of living systems and transform biological engineering into a fully-fledged engineering discipline. The company emphasizes a diverse, collaborative culture and the opportunity to grow with an evolving organization.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field, with 6–8 years of hands-on industry experience in viral vector process development supporting gene therapies; alternatively, a master’s degree with 3–4 years or a Ph.D. with 0–2 years of this experience.
- Mammalian cell culture experience and aseptic technique.
- HEK293-based viral vector process development experience.
- Experience with Ambr15, Ambr250, and/or benchtop-scale viral vector bioreactor processes.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, and ability to follow standardized workflows or pipelines.
- Expertise with spreadsheets such as Google Sheets or Excel.
- Experience using DOE software to develop robust experiments.
- Experience with electronic laboratory notebooks and good documentation practices.
Nice To Haves
- CHO-based experience.
- Analytical development and downstream purification experience.
- Experience in cell line development and/or technology transfer of manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Experience with Spotfire, Google Apps Script (JavaScript), and/or BigQuery for data management and analysis.
Responsibilities
- Conduct lentiviral and adeno-associated viral vector process engineering for gene therapies.
- Design complex experimental approaches to improve workflows and systems, and coordinate project efforts.
- Execute projects involving media and feed optimization, bioreactor process development, process scale-up and characterization at Ambr15, Ambr250, and benchtop scale, and analytical assay development focused primarily on LV/AAV with overlap into biologics.
- Work with the Commercial team to transfer developed upstream processes to external partners.
- Create and optimize workflows for throughput and robustness in transient and stable cell line characterization, small-scale screening assays, and product quality assessment.
- Perform clone screening studies in Ambr15 and Ambr250 bioreactor systems with Viral Vector and Biologics Cell Line Development teams.
- Author, review, and approve process development reports and technology transfer protocols.
- Support clarifications, downstream processing and purification, and product quality assessment using analytical tools.
- Represent Process Development on cross-functional projects, make decisions about process development activities, and communicate results, progress, and plans.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
