Senior Scientist/Group Lead - Cell Line Development

Posted 24 August 2021
Salary Up to £0.00 per annum
LocationThousand Oaks
Job type Permanent
Discipline Life Sciences
ReferenceBBBH113119_1629830625
Contact NameBecky Krage

Job description

We are a fully integrated AAV engineering and gene therapy company poised to create the next generation of innovative genetic therapies with life-changing potential for patients with grievous unmet medical needs.

We leverage our proprietary high-throughput, data science driven AAV engineering platform to create viral vectors with cell-type and tissue level specificity, overcoming many of the biological limitations of early gene therapy efforts. Combined with our inhouse preclinical and manufacturing expertise, we are positioned to create the next generation of AAV delivered gene therapies, dramatically changing the lives of patients.

We are founded on the idea that diverse backgrounds and skill sets combine to create an environment that stimulates innovation and creativity, enabling us to grow into a leader in the AAV gene therapy space. Our leadership team is comprised of the scientific founders that developed the underlying intellectual property, and experienced industry veterans with a track record for brining transformative drugs to market. Together with our partners, we will combine next generation engineered capsids with cutting edge gene editing and delivery modalities to bring novel medicines to patients that need them. Our research and development labs, offices, and manufacturing space are located in Newbury Park, near the Amgen campus.

Senior Scientist/ Group Lead - Cell Line Development

We are looking for an innovative and experienced senior scientist/ group lead to lead cell line development efforts at Capsida Biotherapeutics. A successful candidate will lead the experimental design and execution with a small team, aimed at developing more stable producer cell lines for our AAV manufacturing platform, as well as developing cell lines for a variety of cell-based assays. Under guidance from senior leadership, you will manage a small team of scientists aimed at developing and implementing novel strategies to develop cell lines, driving forward both discovery and manufacturing efforts. A successful candidate will have a strong technical background in molecular biology and genetics, hands on experience with CRISPR, a demonstrated background in high-throughput screening, and a leadership skills. Laboratory activities will constitute approximately 50% of the time.

Major Responsibilities

  • Implement a screening platform for optimizing cell lines for improved productivity, product quality, or manufacturability
  • Perform high-throughput knock-down and gene expression screens in a variety of cell lines.
  • Work with analytical team to design representative cell lines for in vitro potency assessment
  • Assist scientists and research associates in designing experiments to improve production and analytical cell lines
  • Work with external vendors to identify potential partnerships to incorporate novel technologies in the cell line development platform
  • Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory notes, author protocols and reports
  • Plan, schedule, and execute on experimental designs in collaboration with senior leadership

Essential Requirements:

  • Ph.D. in a life sciences discipline with a minimum of 1 years of laboratory experience in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or academic setting, or M.S. with a minimum of 3 years of laboratory experience
  • Strong background in molecular biology and next generation sequencing
  • Demonstrated experience with CRISPR based screening methods
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver on timelines
  • Excellent organizational and collaborative skills, with the ability to design and troubleshoot experiments with minimal supervision or as part of a group. This includes the ability to document and maintain detailed laboratory notes.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, as well as the drive to pursue diverse and ever-changing projects as part of a fast-paced startup team.
  • Proficiency with production and purification of research scale gene therapy vectors

Additional Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with high-throughput screening
  • Previous experience leading a team with direct reports

Essential Qualifications

  • M.S. or Ph.D in a life sciences discipline with a minimum of 3-8 years of relevant experience in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or academic setting.
  • Strong background in molecular biology and next generation sequencing
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver on timelines
  • Excellent organizational and collaborative skills, with the ability to design and troubleshoot experiments with minimal supervision or as part of a group. This includes the ability to document and maintain detailed laboratory notes.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, as well as the drive to pursue diverse and ever-changing projects as part of a fast-paced startup team.
  • Proficiency with production and purification of research scale gene therapy vectors

Compensation and Benefits:

The well-being of our employees and their families is of the highest importance. As such, we offer a competitive salary and exceptional benefits, including generous stock options, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and significant PTO.

Additionally, we offer:

  • Relocation compensation
  • Fully stocked kitchen
  • Social lunches, happy hours, and other events on a regular basis

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law