Senior Scientist: ELISA, PCR, Cell Culture

Thermo Fisher's clinical research business is a leading global contract research organization and world leader in serving science. We are passionate, deliberate, and driven by our mission – to enable our customers to make the world healthier, safer, and cleaner.

Within our Analytical Services team, we have a functional service provider solution, which is a unique partnership that allows our customers to leverage the experience of our staff, while allowing you, the employee, to gain direct experience working onsite at a pharmaceutical/ biopharmaceutical company, all while maintaining full-time benefits.

Job Responsibilities:

Task 1: Support lead scientist to deliver top candidates of site-specific integration (SSI) platform in the Client's Vx CHO cells through a genome-wide screening approach
Deliverables:
a.    Design and synthesis (outsourcing) of necessary constructs 
b.    Production of stable pools and clones
c.    Screening for clones with target profile (stability and productivity)  

Task 2: Support lead scientist to reverse-engineer pre-existing high-producing CHO clones into PoC SSI candidates
Deliverables:
a.    Design and synthesis (outsourcing) of necessary constructs
b.    Production of engineered CHO clones
c.    Screening for clones with targeted insertion profile

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively collaborate within multiple project workstreams
•    Critical thinking skills and ability to efficiently manage changes in priorities and timelines
•    Attention to detail and meticulous execution of project-related tasks
•    Plasmid and viral vector cloning, qPCR/ ddPCR, wet lab next-generation sequencing (NGS) 
•    Experience with FACS analyser/single cell sorter 
•    Experience with CRISPR or other genomic editing tools 
•    Applies detailed fundamental knowledge of own specialty area or scientific discipline into solving process development problems

- Experience with Mammalian Cell Culture

•    Identifies and prioritizes solutions using knowledge gained through formal education, experience, and sound judgment
•    Fully understands the rationale and hypotheses for experimental designs

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in molecular biology, cell biology, virology, or other vaccinology-related discipline or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification

Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 4+ years).

In some  cases, an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word

• Relevant research and development experience in an industrial, academic, or government laboratory setting

• Hands-on experience with aseptic small scale (plate- to shake flask-based) mammalian cell culture (thawing, expanding, freezing), transfection techniques, and clonal isolation 

• Hands-on experience with common nucleic acid- and protein-based in-process analytic assays (e.g., PCR, RTPCR, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, Western blot)

• Experience with mammalian cell culture is preferred 

• Fluency in English

• Proven ability to interpret data by performing trend analysis

• Proven ability in technical writing skills

• Ability to independently optimize analytical methods

• Proven problem solving and troubleshooting abilities

• Good written and oral communication skills

• Time management and project management skills

• Ability to work in a collaborative work environment with a team

Working Environment:

• PPD values the health and well being of our employees. We support and encourage individuals to create a healthy and balanced environment where they can thrive.  Below is listed the working environment/requirements for this role: 
• Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.  
• Able to work upright and stationary and/or standing for typical working hours.     
• Able to lift and move objects up to 25 pounds   
• Able to work in non-traditional work environments.   
• Able to use and learn standard office equipment and technology  with proficiency.
• May have exposure to potentially hazardous elements, including infectious agents, typically found in healthcare or laboratory environments.  
• Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities.