Research Associate - Assay Development

Research Associate, Assay Development

Company Overview

GC Therapeutics is the first genome-wide cell landscape exploration company using an integrated synthetic biology and AI-driven platform for cell programming. Its patent-pending and proprietary pluripotent stem cell di?erentiation technology platform TFome™ was developed in Professor George Church’s lab, a pioneer insynthetic biology, and allows for the development of unique cell therapies with significantly streamlined manufacturing, improved cell quality, e?ciency and speed. GC Therapeutics is based in Cambridge, MA.For additional information, please visit www.gc-tx.com.

Job Purpose

We are seeking a talented and detail-oriented individual to join our growing stem cell research group as a research associate or associate scientist. Under the supervision of scientists, this candidate will support the qualification and validation of assays for the testing, characterization, and release of novel Pluripotent Stem Cell (PSC) derived products. This individual will be expected to design and execute experiments that determine assay performance including the assessment of assay specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, range, reproducibility, and robustness.

The candidate should be coachable, determined, well-organized, responsible, and able to collaborate with other team members.

Duties And Responsibilities

General Laboratory Roles:

• Design, develop and validate assays for testing the safety and efficacy of stem cell-derived products (e.g. critical starting material, intermediates, drug substances, drug products).
• Perform experimental design, data generation, analysis, and communication of results to supervisor, and team members.
• Maintain well-organized and up-to-date records of all research activities, including writing a detailed laboratory journal, detailed protocols, and developing appropriate documentation for processes.
• Analyze data and contribute to documentation for regulatory filings, team meetings, and company presentations. Prepare complex technical reports including SOPs, test methods, and method development reports.
• Assist with the transfer of assays to quality control (QC) team and external contract manufacturing organizations as needed.
• Exemplify scientific curiosity and expertise with relevant literature and cutting-edge technologies.
• Work with other members of the research team and process development team to accomplish company goals.
• Follow all safe laboratory practices and company policies.
  
  

Experimental Techniques

Cellular Biology:

• Culture PSC lines including maintenance and analysis (e.g. cell culture, passaging, cryopreservation).
• Perform cell type differentiation, characterization, and experimental endpoint analysis including flow cytometry, plate-based assays, RT-qPCR, and microscopy.
• Develop procedures and protocols for the genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional characterization of PSC and their derivatives.
• Qualify and validate product specific assays to determine identity, purity, and potency of PSC derived products including various cell-based assays, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and ddPCR.
• Analyze differentiated cell products and establish QC assays.
  
  

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Experience with mammalian cell culture and preferred experience with PSCs.
• B.Sc. or M.Sc. degree in biology, cell biology, bioengineering, biochemistry, or related discipline. Strongly preferred prior industry experience.
• 2 year track record of lab experience.
• Proven experience in molecular biology laboratory techniques.
• Strong project management and organizational skills and ability to prioritize and multitask.
• Effective communication with excellent organization and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a laboratory environment approximately 75% of the time including occasional weekend hours.
  
  

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred experience with analytical development in an industry setting.
• Ability to conduct high quality presentations at internal meetings.
• Authorship on scientific reports and manuscripts.
• Experience in gene expression analysis and next generation sequencing.
• Knowledge of R, Python and FlowJo.
  
  

Equal Opportunity Workplace: GC Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and existing employees without regard to ancestry, national origin, place of birth, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military or otherwise to the full extent of all federal, state and local laws. GC Therapeutics’ equal employment opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of recruiting, hiring, placement, training, compensation, transfer, leave of absence, employment, promotion, layoff and termination of employment.