Senior Protein Expression / Cell Culture Scientist

DESCRIPTION

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE The Protein Science/Upstream Processing (USP) group currently has open positions for scientists with experience in mammalian gene expression. The primary function of the USP group is the production of therapeutic, Fc-fusion proteins and monoclonal antibodies for preclinical research primarily in the areas of oncology, immune-oncology and neurodegeneration. The incumbents will focus on cell line generation, mammalian cell culture and early stage cell culture process development. Scope of work includes expression strategies for mammalian cell lines and hybridomas, stable cell line creation, transient gene transfection, shake flask to bioreactor production and harvest clarification, process development and optimization, and process transfer to in-house process development groups and manufacturing facilities. Coordination, communication and collaboration with discovery scientists and downstream purification colleagues will be critical MAIN INTERFACES INTERNALLY: Candidates will interact with other members of the Protein and Cell Sciences group as well as members of the scientific discovery organizations and downstream process development and manufacturing colleagues. EXTERNALLY: Candidates will foster collaborative relationships with non-EMD Serono personnel specialized in all aspects of protein expression and scale up production under the guidance of the manager. Candidates will prepare and communicate results at external meetings, and in scientific publications. KEY TASKS Perform stability studies and select highly expressing cell lines for cell banking and protein production.
- Perform, develop and optimize scaled-up fed-batch bioreactor processes. Evaluate and / or implement optimal feeding strategies to improve product yield, quality and purity.
- Apply scientific and/or engineering concepts to scale up and scale down of mammalian cell culture processes.
- Support activities associated with execution and analysis of bench-scale bioreactor experiments related to clone selection.
- Apply and analyze Design of Experiment (DOE) studies to fully characterize cell culture processes.
- Generate, manage, evaluate, and maintain critical data in a highly organized manner. Provide technical reports, tech transfer documents, and prepare scientific presentations as needed. Write/revise SOPs as needed.
- Candidates will also focus on continuous process improvement and implement new technology/innovations wherever possible.
- Collaborate and coordinate with colleagues from basic research, cell line development, downstream purification, analytical development groups. Participate in the technology transfer of processes to Process Development and external collaborators and partners.
- Scientists are expected to serve as trainer and mentor for junior staff in the laboratory.
- Maintains and develops awareness of latest technology knowledge through interactions with EMD/Merck Millipore, academic and commercial professionals.
- Working in a team-oriented environment the candidates will have the opportunity to lead and manage independent projects as well as participate on cross-functional teams as representatives of the Upstream Processing group.