Scientist, iPSC Platform in Cambridge

Overview

Location: Babraham Research Park, Cambridge

Type: Full time, permanent

Start: Immediate

Salary: Competitive / Hours: 40 p/w

This role does not meet the minimum salary requirements for UK skilled worker sponsorship. Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK or must not require sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa.

Your role in our team

We are seeking a motivated Scientist to join our iPSC Platform team, playing a key role in the onboarding, maintenance and characterisation of both Master and Working Cell Banks that underpin bit.bio’s work. In this role, you will ensure the availability of consistent, highly characterised iPSC material to support our R&D, manufacturing, and product development efforts. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including Product Management, R&D, Process Development and Production, you will contribute at multiple stages of new product development, ensuring projects stay on track and on time. There is a need to be diplomatic, collaborative and adaptable, thriving in a fast-paced, rapidly growing environment. The ability to manage shifting priorities with agility will be key to your success.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the generation of master and working cell banks for a variety of iPSC lines with full characterisation; overseeing iPSC culture and quality assessments.
• Schedule work alongside other priorities and ensure experimental work is designed and carried out to the highest standards.
• Support cell line karyotype assessment via Optical Genome Mapping.
• Contribute to the expansion of this platform to support company goals.
• Develop and optimise SOPs in key processes such as cryopreservation, characterisation assays and establishment of quality criteria to support cell line generation.
• Provide training and guidance to junior team members, ensuring they are proficient in processes and adhere to established protocols effectively.
• Drive validation of new cell culture systems to ensure the platform remains fit for purpose, including culture medium, coating matrix, plastic format, etc.
• Design and run functional assays to qualify iPSC line quality.
• Proactively design experiments to capture and interpret data where needed.
• Support junior members of the team by providing intellectual and practical support.
• Support day-to-day decision making around team activities and priorities to support team and company goals.
• Promote a proactive, continual improvement culture and systems to maintain high standards of service and good practice.
• Proactively identify opportunities to push the team to continually develop better ways of operating.
• Highlight potential areas for improvement to the line manager and drive changes in process and procedures where applicable.
• Monitor and report key performance data to the Department lead (e.g., project status and progress).
• Provide updates verbally and via presentations to the relevant project teams.
• Collaborate with team members and other departments to achieve project goals.
• Be proactive in your communication with others to support the most effective team dynamic, focused on common goals.

Qualifications and experience

• Hold a minimum Bachelor’s degree qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field of Biological Science.
• Motivated scientist demonstrating the highest scientific rigour, operational skill and work standards.
• Process oriented and experienced in developing, optimising & implementing workflows, protocols, procedures and resources in a quality management environment.
• Essential experience in: demonstrable and extensive industrial experience within the biotech or equivalent industry, working with human induced pluripotent stem cell biology, characterisation and culture systems; experience of molecular biology techniques (nucleic acid extraction, PCR, etc.); experience of working to detailed instructions outlined in SOPs and recording experimental work in an electronic notebook or equivalent; experience of mentoring more junior team members and managing internal & external stakeholder relationships; excellent time management, organisation and communication skills.
• Desirable experience (and not limited to): cell phenotyping and functional end point analysis (e.g., flow cytometry, qPCR, ICC); experience in cell characterisation, karyotyping and data analysis using specialist techniques such as optical genome mapping; expertise in continuous improvement and its implementation (e.g., LEAN, 5S) and experience of working to a quality management system; experience in automation and bioreactor operation; experience of working in a regulated environment to GLP, GMP or similar.

For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.bit.bio/open-roles