Scientist, Cancer Immunotherapy (Solid Tumor)

Fate Therapeutics is seeking a talented and motivated individual to join our NK cell cancer immunotherapy team. Our rapidly growing team is central to Fate Therapeutics’ quest to develop best in class allogeneic ‘off-the-shelf’ adoptive NK cell therapy products. The successful candidate will help in leading the development of novel NK cell products, while playing a key role in executing on strategies to modulate NK cell trafficking, persistence, effector function, and TME regulation. This position will communicate and collaborate within and across disciplines, both internally and with outside partners, including top tier pharmaceutical partners and leading academic labs. In this role, the successful candidate will improve our understanding of iPSC-derived, engineered NK cells through design, planning and execution of in vitro/vivo experiments utilizing cutting edge technologies and industry applications. This is a full-time position reporting to a Principal Scientist, Cancer Immunotherapy, and is located at our corporate headquarters in San Diego, CA. 
Responsibilities

• Leverage NK cell, tumor biology, or tumor microenvironment expertise in collaborative efforts with Scientists, Associate Scientists and Research Associates to develop, influence and enhance our understanding of iPSC derived NK cell products.
• Design, plan, execute, and manage proof of concept studies spanning multiple programs to assess NK cell therapy products’ function and potential efficacy.
• Execute viral vector-based modification of cell lines and primary cells.
• Generate primary cells, iPSC derived cells, and tumor cell lines using meticulous aseptic cell culture technique.
• Perform in vitro functional assays and in vivo xenograft/PDX tumor models to evaluate NK cell product candidates in combination with existing immunotherapy/chemo/radiotherapeutic modalities.
• Collect, maintain, and organize primary data for timely analysis in accordance with company policy.
• Prepare and present data to team members and larger multidisciplinary teams.
• Take initiative to perform routine laboratory tasks and upkeep of the lab space in order to maintain conditions that are conducive to excellent scientific work.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Immunology, cancer cell biology (or a related field) with 1-3+ years of relevant laboratory experience in an academic, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical setting.
• Experience with high dimensional flow cytometry, panel design and downstream analysis, with an emphasis on developing throughput assays using primary cells and ex vivo (tissue isolated) immune and tumor cells. Industry method and assay development activities a plus.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture, preferably with in vitro assessment of lymphocyte effector functions, including, but not limited to, tumor cell cytotoxicity killing and cytokine release/profiling assays.
• Strong background in tumor-immune cell interactions, with a central focus on T/NK cell biology and solid tumor microenvironment (TME) knowledge.
• Experience with multi-parameter phenotypic and functional analysis of NK cells using flow cytometry, gene expression, cytokine/immune profiling, and cytotoxicity assays.
• Outstanding data management and interpretation using statistical and/or data management programs e.g. Prism or equivalent.
• Excellent coordination and communication with multiple groups for scheduling and execution of experiments.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and supervising team members.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with proven experience thriving in a cross-functional team setting.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Experience writing and reviewing industry research and QC controlled reports desirable. 

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Will require working with cells and cell lines of human and/or animal origin.
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.
• 100% on-site work at corporate headquarters in San Diego, CA 

The preceding job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. Additional and incidental duties related to the primary duties may be required from time to time.

About Fate Therapeutics, Inc.
Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of first-in-class cellular immunotherapies for patients with cancer. The Company has established a leadership position in the clinical development and manufacture of universal, off-the-shelf cell products using its proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform. The Company’s immuno-oncology pipeline includes off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell product candidates, which are designed to synergize with well-established cancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, and to target tumor-associated antigens using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.fatetherapeutics.com.