Research Associate, Upstream Process Development
- Employer
- 4D Molecular Therapeutics
- Location
- Emeryville, CA
- Start date
- Mar 31, 2021
View more
- Discipline
- Engineering, Manufacturing & Production, Process
- Required Education
- Bachelors Degree
- Position Type
- Contract
- Hotbed
- Biotech Bay
Job Details
4DMT is focused on attracting and retaining the best people in the industry who identify with our mission and innovative results-driven approach. We offer an inspiring and collaborative environment that encourages individual contributions, recognizes performance in multiple ways, offers competitive salary and benefits, and provides challenging opportunities for career development. 4D Molecular Therapeutics is located in Emeryville, CA.
GENERAL SUMMARY:
We seek a talented and passionate Research Associate to join our leading-edge Upstream Process Development team in developing cell culture methods, evaluating new reagents and building platforms for AAV production. This person will report to the head of Upstream Process Development and interact closely with the following teams: Downstream Process Development, Analytical Development and Upstream Manufacturing.
Responsibilities:
- Lab & Experimental Activities: 80%
- Design and perform experiments across multiple unit operations including cell expansion, transient plasmid transfection, AAV harvest and sterile filtration.
- Execute studies that mature process knowledge towards AAV structure/function and improve AAV production yields & product quality.
- Test, expand and maintain clonal cell lines that can drive process and/or product improvements.
- Support evaluation of early research candidates through material production and assessment of process robustness.
- Help evaluate and troubleshoot new technologies as well as continuous improvement projects.
- Learn the operations of and help execute studies for AAV production in multiple bioreactor systems.
- Draft and update batch records, electronic lab notebooks (ELN), standard operating procedures and technical reports. Generate technical documentation that is IND-supporting and will be communicated to relevant internal/external stakeholder &/or regulatory parties. Cross-functional & Communication: 20%
- Collaborate with process & analytical teams to screen, generate and evaluate drug candidates across a range of indications.
- Contribute to a culture that embraces continuous learning, improvement and innovation. Work with others to expand their technical skill base and deepen their gene therapy expertise.
- Maintain a current awareness and contribute to current scientific literature; apply new concepts and technologies to our workflow.
- Other duties as assigned, nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s with relevant experience in Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Life Sciences or related field. Skills:
- Asceptic cell culturing is required.
- Experience with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and similar software.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in the lab and with record upkeep.
- Interest in developing strong communication skills, both written and oral; highlight presentation & communication of ideas in one on one discussions and team meetings.
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
- Experience working with plasmid sequences is a plus.
- Working knowledge of GMP & GDP is a plus. Physical Requirements of the Role:
- In lab and lab support activities may require occasional maneuvering of items approx. 25 lbs during operations and/or storage of consumables.
- Must be willing to conform with the safety and social distancing practices established by 4DMT as well as the upstream PD group while on-site (4-5 days/week) or in lab (3-4 days/week).
4DMT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
Company
4DMT is a gene therapy company with a transformative discovery platform --Therapeutic Vector Evolution --that enables our “disease first” approach to product discovery and development, thereby allowing us to customize our AAV vectors to target specific tissue types associated with the underlying disease.
At 4DMT we are creating and developing optimized “biopharmaceutical grade” AAV vectors that will allow us uniquely to unlock the full potential of gene therapy. Our customized and proprietary AAV vectors are each designed, according to a 4DMT Target Vector Profile, to deliver genes to specific cells and tissues in the body to eradicate both rare and large market diseases.
While AAV gene therapy pioneers are making great strides with the first wave of products, hurdles still exist with the use of conventional vectors. The most commonly used AAV capsids (e.g., AAV2, 5, 8 and 9) were identified either 1) as contaminants in lab stocks of adenovirus, or 2) through monkey tissue processing. Therefore, these conventional vectors are not targeted specifically to any tissue in the body. This can lead to inefficient and non-specific delivery, thus requiring extremely high doses and potentially resulting in toxicities (including inflammation), high manufacturing burdens and suboptimal efficacy. In addition, suboptimal routes of delivery can be required for delivery to the right tissues (e.g., subretinal delivery to the retina). Finally, pre-existing neutralizing antibodies in many patients can limit efficacy, clinical trial enrollment and market sizes. 4DMT Innovation empowers us to create new and improved next generation AAV capsids to allow targeted delivery of our products by the optimal clinical route of administration.
At 4DMT we use our robust discovery platform, termed “Therapeutic Vector Evolution,” to create customized and proprietary gene delivery vehicles (novel AAV vectors) to deliver genes to specific tissues and cells in the body by the optimal route of administration. We use the power of evolution to create and refine these optimized vectors through genetic diversification and then natural selection in vivo.
4D Purpose Statement: Boldly Innovating to Unlock the Full Potential of Gene Therapy for Countless Patients
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
- Dare to Cure - Patients are waiting. Create big dreams for patients and take calculated risks to achieve them
- Break Boundaries - Question the status quo and innovate beyond conventional approaches
- Beyond Yourself - It's about patients, their families, our team, our families. We strengthen each other.
- Prepare and Execute Relentlessly - Start with the end in mind, over-prepare and make contingency plans to your contingency plans
We invite all of you who share our passion and vision in creating the ultimate gene therapy products to cure genetic and rare diseases in children and adults. We seek the best people in the industry who identify with our mission and innovative results-driven approach. We offer an inspiring and collaborative environment that encourages individual contributions, recognizes performance in multiple ways, offers generous benefits and provides challenging opportunities for career development.
- Website
- http://www.4dmoleculartherapeutics.com/
- Phone
- 510-505-2680
- Location
-
5858 Horton St. Suite 455
Emeryville
California
94608
United States
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