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Senior Scientist, Molecular & Cell Biology

Employer
4DMT
Location
Emeryville, California, US
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
May 31, 2022

View more

Sector
Academic / Research
Field
Informatics / GIS
Discipline
Biology
Salary Type
Salary
Employment Type
Full time
Senior Scientist, Molecular & Cell Biology

GENERAL SUMMARY:

4DMT seeks a talented and motivated Senior Scientist to join our Technology Innovation team. This position will focus on innovation in Molecular and Cell Biology, and its applications to AAV promoter and transgene engineering. Utilizing RT-qPCR, NGS, ELISA, image-based readouts and other molecular biologics techniques, the Senior Scientist will play a key role in new capsid, promoter and regulatory element discovery. Current and near-term future projects include:
  • Screening-guided design of new promoters and regulatory elements in support of new disease indications.
  • Establishing gene editing and RNAi assays/screens in therapeutically relevant cell types
  • Identification of new AAV variants from our proprietary directed evolution platform


RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lab Activities: 80% of TIME
  • Construction of promoter and transgene libraries, followed by plate-based and pooled screening in relevant cell models
  • Assay development to enable RNAi (RT-qPCR and RNASeq), and promoter/regulatory element engineering screens, as well as AAV transduction assays
  • Develop automation and high throughout workflow as necessary
  • In collaboration with the Bioinfomatics team, perform real-time quality control of data to ensure robust results and refine/troubleshoot as needed.


Collaboration, design and literature review: 20% of TIME

• Design new assays (InDel assays, ELISA, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence), guided by prior experience, new ideas and collaborative discussion

• In collaboration with the bioinformatics team, design new libraries (RNAi, CRISPR, promoter, payload) for screening

• Attend and contribute to project and team meetings

• Keep up-to-date with the literature, emerging commercial technologies and instrumentation, and conferences

• Effectively mentoring junior level staff and acting as a resource for providing scientific expertise

• Writing and editing preclinical study reports and preclinical sections in support of regulatory submissions

Other:

• Other duties as assigned, nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• PhD in a relevant field

Experience:

• PhD plus 5+ years industry experience, including substantial hands-on wetlab work in 96+ well cell culture models

• Demonstrated ability to train others in the successful execution of new assays and screens

Skills:

(non-technical and technical skills)

Ability to execute plate-based high throughput screens and pooled selections in a rigorous and reproducible manner (such as gene editing screens (indel assays), RNAi (RT-qPCR and RNASeq), and promoter/payload engineering screens (cell-based readout), as well as AAV transduction assays)
  • Successful demonstrated ability to conduct research with strong attention to detail and rigorous analysis and interpretation of data
  • Ability to handle large-scale (dozens of plates at a time) and parallel experiments in an organized and efficient manner
  • Ability to multi-task and support more than one project simultaneously
  • Highly organized and motivated; strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
  • Strong work ethic, flexibility, and cooperative can-do attitude

Proven interest and ability to build a culture that embraces continuous learning, improvement, and innovation
  • Ability to work cooperatively in a team-based environment; supportive of multiple viewpoints and approaches
  • Strong communication skills (both written and oral) with demonstrated ability to present ideas, information and data effectively via one on one discussions, team meetings, and external partnership interactions

Contribute to building a culture that embraces continuous learning, improvement, and innovation and encourages team members to expand their technical skill base and deepen their gene therapy expertise.

Physical Requirements of the Role:

• In lab and lab support activities may require occasional maneuvering of items of 25 lbs. during operations and/or storage of consumables.

• Prolonged periods of standing or sitting at the laboratory bench.

• Must be willing to conform to the safety and social distancing practices established by 4DMT while on-site (4-5 days/week).

• During COVID-19, this person will need to be in the lab up to five days a week and adhere to the 4DMT Covid protocols and policy.

• Since plate-based assays and screening require repetitive liquid handling, even with robotic assistance, the incumbent will be expected to adhere to safe lab practices to prevent repetitive motion injury.

• During COVID-19 will this person need to be in a lab? Yes

o 5 days per week?

o Adhere to 4DMT Covid protocols and policy

4DMT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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