Scientist I

Job Title: Scientist I   Position Summary: Takara Bio USA, Inc. develops and commercializes quality, innovative nucleic acid library preparation products, designed to enable both research and diagnostic customers to analyze challenging samples that may be limited in both the amount and quality of nucleic acid input.   We are looking for a highly skilled, creative, and self-motivated individual with experience in molecular biology, cell biology or biochemistry to join our dynamic, team-oriented R&D group at our Ann Arbor, MI location. The successful candidate will be able to turn ideas into practical tools aimed at developing innovative nucleic acid technologies to address low-input and challenging single-cell amplification customer needs. The candidate must have strong analytical problem-solving skills as well as solid verbal and written communication skills.   Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Plans and conducts experiments at the bench related to one or more projects related to low-input and challenging nucleic acid library preparations for NGS.
• Works with under guidance from Product Managers and senior scientists to ensure projects are developed according to specifications and set deadlines.
• Learns about TBUSA’s market and competitors through interaction with Product Managers.
• Identifies potential new products for development based on assessment of customer demand, market trends, and competitor analysis with help from Product Manager and more senior researchers in the group.
• Develops and launches new products according to approved proposals and within stated deadlines.
• Serves as resource to R&D and other departments within the organization, including Product Management, Planning, QC, and Product Transfer in a particular field of specialization.
• May represent Research and Development at scientific meetings – typically by presenting posters.
• May to support Technical Support representatives on technical matters.

  General Duties & Responsibilities:

• Learns and adheres to quality system protocols.
• Conducts experiments of high quality, exhibiting good experimental design, data summary and interpretation, and clear report preparation.
• Exhibits good professional ethics.
• Contributes data/findings for use in reports, documents, or verbal/written presentations.
• Drafts SOPs, user manuals and other related technical documents, with assistance from more senior R&D members.
• Approximately 5% travel may be required.
• Additional duties as assigned.

  Job Complexity:

• Fully responsible for proposing experimental plan/design, but may receive guidance from other scientists.
• Learning about manufacturing processes and requirements – SOPs, etc. and how to draft these.
• Limited experience with contractual matters such as CDAs, etc.

  Education / Experience:

• Typically requires a Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline and some postdoctoral experience.
• Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts with specialized skills in a specific area, not simply knowledge of techniques (e.g.qPCR, DNA/RNA isolation and handling, FFPE nucleic acid isolation and handling, ctDNA/cfDNA isolation, oligo design, WGA, epigenetics, NGS library preparation and sequencing).
• Effective analytical, problem solving and judgment skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.