Senior Scientist, CAR T-Cell Biology

The Company
Link Cell Therapies was launched by Stanford founders Robbie Majzner and Crystal Mackall in partnership with investors Samsara BioCapital and Sheatree Capital. The company is developing a best-in-class logic-gate technology to spur a new generation of cell therapies for patients with solid tumors. Link's "AND" gates require two cancer-associated targets for a CAR T cell to attack cancer cells, thereby providing specificity for killing of tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. Combined with additional technologies under development, Link will advance a suite of exciting internal therapeutic programs while exploring opportunities for value creation with strategic partners.

Job Description
Link Cell Therapies is looking for a motivated scientist to join our Cell Engineering team. The successful applicant will be responsible for efforts to characterize and optimize the company's core platforms: LINK, logic-gated CARs for solid tumors; BOOST, sensitized killing of low-antigen tumors; and ZAP, a novel CAR system that reduces T-cell exhaustion. Within this role, they will lead projects from initial lead molecules to adapt platform technologies into next generation cell therapies. This is an opportunity to join an exciting new start-up during the early discovery phase and to follow our programs throughout research pipeline advancement and into clinical studies.

Responsibilities

* Design DNA constructs for a variety of applications, including characterization and optimization of CAR signaling circuits
* Execute T-cell functional assays and immune cell profiling
* Contribute to scientific ideas and key hypotheses that advance the company's platforms.
* Drive research efforts to enable decisions on project status
* Coordinate tasks across multiple platforms, demonstrating prioritization and planning.
* Build familiarity with relevant current literature and its application to synthetic biology approaches, T-cell signaling, etc.
* Maintain an updated electronic laboratory notebook
* Present findings to stakeholders and leadership

Preferred Qualifications

* Ph.D. in synthetic biology, chemical biology, immunology or a related field with 2+ years of relevant experience; or Master's with 7+ years of relevant experience; or Bachelor's with 10+ years of relevant experience
* Experience with chimeric antigen design principles
* Experience with T-cell culturing and performing T-cell functional assays (e.g. activation, differentiation, Incucyte-based cytotoxicity)
* Experience with mutli-color flow cytometry and data analysis software
* Experience with viral transduction and electroporation methods
* Strong organizational skills
* Self-motivator with a willingness to learn and adopt new experimental techniques