Assay Development/Quality Control Associate/Scientist

Company Overview

ViaCyte, Inc., a leader in the emerging field of regenerative medicine, is a private, venture-capital backed company headquartered in San Diego, California, focused on profoundly improving the way patients with diabetes are treated.  For more information on ViaCyte, please visit www.viacyte.com and connect with ViaCyte on Twitter and Facebook.

Position Description

This position will, under minimal supervision, perform a broad range of activities to characterize and release stem cell derived pancreatic cells for in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies. The research associate will be responsible for the analytical characterization of differentiated cells using cell/molecular biology techniques.

The associate will perform experimental and/or qualified assays evaluating cell proliferation & differentiation, signal transduction, gene expression, and functional responses of cells.

• Perform product characterization testing in support of research, process development and manufacturing efforts.
• Analyze data; report results; advise internal customers regarding outcomes of testing.
• Maintain equipment and instrumentation. Monitor instrument performance to assure optimal operation.
• Validate test systems and methods for use in the quality control of cGMP-regulated manufacturing, as necessary.
• Perform quality control testing; monitor and trend QC testing data to assure validity of test system results; and troubleshoot and remedy suboptimal performance of test systems.
• Develop additional test methods in response to internal customer requirements, as necessary.  

Requirements

• BS/MS in cell or molecular biology, Medical Technology, or related discipline. 
• Minimum of 5 years of laboratory experience is required.  An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the job duties as listed above is acceptable.
• Demonstrated experience with aseptic cell culture methods, including cryopreserving, thawing, culturing, and expanding cell lines is essential.
• Experience with cell-based assays (PCR, ELISA, Flow Cytometry) is essential.
• Experience performing testing in a regulated laboratory environment (cGMP, cGLP, clinical lab scientist) is essential.
• Experience in developing and validating test methods is preferred.
• Ability and willingness to perform a wide variety of tasks – from those which are routine in nature to those which require independent thought and analysis. 
• Must be highly detail oriented, maintain accurate records, perform data analysis, and communicate results through written and oral summaries.
• Able to troubleshoot, solve difficult problems, and develop process improvements.
• Must be skilled in the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of statistics and statistical software is preferred.
• Must be available to occasionally work weekends.

The ideal candidate will be technically strong and adept at managing multiple priorities. Our business moves at a rapid pace, making resourcefulness and flexibility key contributors to success.  This position is not eligible for relocation.

Application Procedure

Apply below with a cover letter and an attached resume, saved as a Word or PDF file.

Policy

It is the policy of ViaCyte to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, ViaCyte will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

ViaCyte’s goal is to increase representation of women, people of color, veterans and individuals with disabilities. Our programs are designed to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, directives and regulations and cover all human resource actions including employment, compensation, benefits, training, education, promotions and social/recreational programs.