Scientist, Molecular Biology and Immunology

Celularity is a leading clinical stage NJ-based biotechnology company in cellular therapeutics. The Translational Research group is seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to design and evaluate gene modifications to enhance Celularity's allogeneic placental NK cell and T cell therapeutic platforms in immune oncology. The candidate will have 3+ years of postgraduate academic or pharmaceutical industry experience in the field of NK, T cell and/or hematopoietic stem cell biology. Expertise with retroviral or lentiviral methods of transgene expression in lymphocytes is required. Prior experience with the design and functional assessment of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) is required. The candidate will regularly collaborate with internal and external research teams to identify targets of interest, design, and execute proof of concept studies. The candidate will also work with clinical, legal and business development teams to initiate new product development and strategy.

• Optimize and evaluate viral/nonviral approaches to transgene expression and in hematopoietic stem cells, NK and T cells.
• Independently identify and prioritize genetic modification targets for proof of concept and mechanism of action studies including lymphocyte activation and effector function, cytokine and chemokine release, cell phenotype and maturation, characterization of signal transduction.
• Provide recommendations for and implement studies and strategies to define the potential of the cellular product in pertinent in vivo
• Provide scientific progress reports to the Director and/or Senior Management as required
• Evaluate state-of-the-art in the field, regularly read and provide updates from scientific journals
• Participates in management of external collaboration and CROs.
• Provides scientific leadership to accelerate development and to provide insight into cellular product mechanisms and disease biology
• Convey scientific concepts and data among research scientists, management teams within internal working groups/project teams, external academic and industrial organizations, review committees, and conferences.
• Writing for reports, regulatory filings, conference presentations and scientific publications.

• The successful candidate will have a PhD or MD/PhD degree with expertise in immunology, with research focusing on gene modification or CAR engineering of primary cells required.
• Understanding of signaling cascades and immune activation in lymphocytes strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years post-graduate experience with a track record of success as evidenced by a strong publication record, and/or, evidence of sustained contributions in the biopharmaceutical industry required.
• Molecular biology expertise: retroviral or lentiviral plasmid design and optimization, SDS-PAGE/western blot, ELISA/Luminex required.
• Cellular biology expertise: NK or T cell activation assays, flow cytometry, functional evaluation in tumor disease models
• Detail-oriented and able to prioritize assignments
• Strong verbal and written communication skills