Research Associate II (Downstream)

Job title: Research Associate II (Downstream)

Location: Oceanside, CA 92056

100% Onsite

Duration: 12 months contract

Position Summary

The client is seeking a Sr Research Associate I with experience in protein purification process development and process characterization.

Essential Duties and Job Functions

• Plan and execute assigned experiments on-site that support Process Development activities and project goals.
• Select appropriate methods and techniques for performing experiments.
• Develop skills in data analysis and interpreting experiment outcomes including the ability to evaluate data quality and recognize anomalous results.
• Recommend alternatives, research new methods and techniques and proactively seek out senior personnel to discuss potential solutions to problems.
• Participate in group meetings and present results, data interpretation and conclusions.
• Demonstrate strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to explain processes used to achieve results of assigned tasks.
• Work with team oriented, collaborative and problem-solving mindset.
• Always work with safety in mind. Able to work with highly potent compounds upon training.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of 2+ years of relevant experience; OR Master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline with 0+ years of relevant experience
• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline preferred

Experience

• Prior experience in biologics purification, with an emphasis on conjugation, tangential flow filtration (UF/DF), and filtration.
• Prior experience in analytical operations: SEC/HPLC, CE (R/NR), HCP testing is beneficial, but not required.

Technical Knowledge

• Knowledge of cGMPs, technology transfer, and scaling up bioprocesses.
• Working understanding of downstream process development including centrifugation, normal and tangential flow filtration, chromatography operations, and virus clearance. The ability to demonstrate hands on experience in several of these areas is expected. Experience with multiple modalities (mAbs, bispecifics, fusion and antibody drug conjugates, virus particles) produced in microbial and mammalian expression systems is a plus.

Skills & Abilities

• Must be able to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Must demonstrate excellent technical writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively within the purification team to help design and execute experiments supporting process definition, optimization, and characterization with an increasing level of independence.
• Ability to collaborate with Technical Operations during technology transfer from process development to GMP manufacturing, including serving as a process development representative during purification operations, providing technical troubleshooting and identifying opportunities for future process and equipment improvements.
• The candidate will also contribute to the preparation of regulatory filings and process validation and characterization reports.
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas, project goals and results and should have the ability to proactively identify issues and suggest solutions in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. This is a highly collaborative environment where willingness and ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals across various teams is essential.

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated, organized, and enjoy scientific investigation and thinking.
• The candidate will monitor and contribute to external literature and scientific conferences.