What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Scientific Services Specialist – Cell Services Support position at Planet Pharma?
Daily Responsibilities / Job Description :
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate for the role of Research Specialist to join our Cell Services team at a major pharmaceutical customer location. A successful candidate will be responsible for performing standardized, protocol-driven lab-based work (i.e.; maintaining mammalian cell lines, protein isolation, stocking reagents and supplies, etc.). They must be able to meet deadlines and generate accurate, reproducible work and reports. Must work well independently and as a team member, proactively bringing concerns to managerial staff. Must have good judgment and be a self-starter and self-directed worker. Must be able to keep information confidential.
Responsibilities :
- Provide high quality laboratory support to the Cell Services team.
- Grow, maintain, and cryopreserve contamination-free mammalian cells (suspension & adherent).
- Preparation of cell pellets for histological processing.
- Provide daily, vials of tested, frozen cell lines to scientists.
- Isolate and cryopreserve primary PBMCs and further cell subsets from both whole blood and leukopaks.
- Isolate a variety of cell types from fresh blood daily in a timely manner.
- Isolate serum from whole blood.
- Maintain sterile technique while culturing isolated primary cells.
- Perform established flow cytometry QC protocols on a routine basis and analyze results.
- Generate and analyze data with the highest Data Integrity standards to include identifying and reporting unusual results / outcomes.
- Operate and maintain laboratory instrumentation including Mycoplasma onsite testing & clean-up as warranted.
- Continue technological improvements to increase productivity and cost-efficiency.
- Develop organization skills, presentation skills and attention to detail.
- Interact with senior staff members as necessary.
- Ensure compliance with all R&D data integrity practices, ethics codes, standards and training, and safety training and practice
- May be requested to provide on-call service (primary and secondary) for specific research units in the lab areas. Tasks include but are not limited to transfer of contents from failing fridges and incubators to designated back up units, photograph original items, properly document failure, provide a work order of failing unit to facilities team and inform respective end-users about the transfer via email based on the SOP instructions
Qualifications / years of experience :
Bachelor of Science degree and a minimum 6 months of technical expertise in cell culture, general lab instrumentation, cell-based assays required.
Associates degree and a minimum of 2 years of technical expertise in cell culture, general lab instrumentation, cell-based assays
Must Haves :
Additional Requirements : Previous experience in biotech and / or pharmaceutical drug discovery.
Prior experience isolating primary cells preferred (Stemcell Technologies / Miltenyi)
