Scientist / Bioengineer, Synthetic Biology

Port Therapeutics is a stealth venture-backed biotechnology company launched by co-founders Gabe Kwong (Georgia Tech), Mikhail Shapiro (Caltech, HHMI) and Sangeeta Bhatia (MIT, HHMI). Port Therapeutics was founded with the vision to merge breakthrough advances in synthetic biology, cell engineering, and clinical imaging to enable safer, more precise and potent therapies. The company's platform technology will allow physicians to deliver the right therapy, at the right place, at the right time to meaningfully improve the outcome of patients with serious diseases such as cancer.

We are currently seeking an exceptional individual to join our growing Synthetic Biology team as a Scientist / Bioengineer in the Greater Los Angeles Area, CA. The candidate will be a motivated researcher that will play a lead role in the design, characterization, optimization of genetic circuits as it relates to mammalian cell therapy for cancer. The individual may work on multiple programs in parallel at various stages of development.

The successful candidate will thrive on teamwork and collaboration. They will embrace a fast-paced environment, pursue scientific rigor, and set and achieve goals. They will be eager to learn new areas outside of their knowledge and approach problem-solving with grit.

This role is a unique opportunity to join an early-stage, well-funded startup. This is an on-site laboratory position at our facilities located in Los Angeles, CA.

Essential Duties include (but are not limited to):

? Design and clone genetic circuits to achieve the desired sense-and-respond functionality for therapeutic applications.

? Manage the small-scale production of viruses for human cell transduction and engineering.

? Design, develop, and perform in vitro cellular assays to optimize the response of genetic circuits in mammalian cells including cytotoxicity, proliferation, migration, and multi-color flow cytometry assays.

? Develop protocols, standard operating procedures, and statistical test methods.

? Draft and review technical reports.

? Play a lead role in regular internal project meetings and data reviews.

? Document all experiments and findings in electronic lab notebooks.

? Aid in management of lab tasks including maintaining supplies, reagents, and cells.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

? Ph.D. in a life science discipline (Biology, Bioengineering, Immunology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, etc.) with deep experience in bacterial or mammalian synthetic biology.

? Expertise with molecular cloning techniques including PCR, transformation, sequencing, and DNA isolation is required.

? Proficiency in mammalian cell and molecular biology techniques including sterile technique, primary cell culture, cell assays, cell isolation, and cell sorting is required.

? Excellent organizational, communication, time-management, and collaboration skills are required.

? Job title will be commensurate with experience.

Working Conditions

? Light to medium physical effort/lifting, up to 20 pounds

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter (.pdf format) to hr@porttherapeutics.com

Port Therapeutics requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive an approved medical or religious exemption.

Port Therapeutics is based in California with its R&D laboratory in Los Angeles. Port is an equal opportunity employer and strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination based upon an individual's race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, mental/physical disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.