Technicians assist in tissue and viral culture of Chicken Embryo Fibroblast (CEF) cells for Marek’s Disease vaccine production in a production clean room environment. Tissue culture is currently performed using roller bottle tissue culture vessels. The production of the vaccine begins in the Marek’s clean rooms with the receival of highly concentrated primary CEF cell suspension; this suspension is then added to a growth medium made in-house by technicians. Calculations are performed to reach a target cell amount per roller bottle vessel. Working seed ampoules are used to infect tissue culture vessels with a target virus particle amount to achieve optimal infection. These roller bottle viral cultures are then harvested, batched, and filled into labeled ampoules.

Marek’s disease is a highly contagious, often fatal, malignancy of poultry that affects the nerves and visceral organs and is caused by a herpes virus. Control is primarily by vaccination, which has resulted in a dramatic reduction in losses of this disease in flocks raised for consumption and egg laying.

·Aseptic Technique: All manufacturing processes must be performed aseptically. Procedures take place under a Grade A Laminar Air Flow hood in a production clean room.

·Clean room production work: Requires daily gowning with sterile hooded coveralls, goggles, face mask, two pairs of gloves, and clean room boot coverings.

·Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): The ability to understand and follow Marek’s Laboratory SOPs, Quality Assurance SOPs, Marek’s Laboratory Support SOPs, and other SOPs as applicable.

·Documentation: All procedures must be thoroughly documented; documentation must be legible and concurrent.

·Tissue & Viral Culture: Performing and understanding basic tissue and viral culture.

·Media preparation: Assist in the preparation of growth medium and cryoprotectant medium to be used during various vaccine production processes.

·Clean Room Support area: Marek’s Production Technicians work closely with Marek’s Production Support Technicians; this can include dishware preparation outside of the clean room and helping with the process of placing filled ampoules on cryogenic vial canes.

·Weekend and shift coverage: Marek’s Disease vaccine production typically takes four days from start to finish, and the processing times range from early morning to late evening as cultures are infected and harvested in specific time frames. Shift coverage can rotate (unless otherwise specified during hiring). Multiple vaccine lot productions require weekend coverage, therefore one weekend shift a month is required (unless otherwise specified during hiring).

·Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) & CFR Title 9: Animals and Animal Products

·Shape solutions out of complexity

·Client focus

·Collaborate with empathy

·Engage and develop

·Drive ambition and accountability

·Influence others

●Understanding of aseptic technique

●Understanding of clean room behavior

●Cell culture and viral culture knowledge

●Mathematical aptitude

●Coachability

●Thoroughness & attention to detail

●Flexibility

Education - Education – Bachelor’s degree in a related field, preferred but not required

Work Experience - Manufacturing experience, beneficial but not required

Other (consider certifications, specialized knowledge and/or training, etc.) -

·Able to read, write legibly, and communicate in English

·Color vision, frequent fine motor movements of the hands and wrist, periods of short-term balancing, bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching below knees to above shoulders, static overhead work, operating in small spaces

·Ability to stand and walk >90% of work day

·Ability to push/pull up to 40 lbs frequently

·Ability to lift up to 20 lbs overhead occasionally

·Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs frequently

·Ability to perform job duties for up to three hours without a break

·Ability to dress and operate in clean room environments

·Large-scale clean room manufacturing

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