Associate Scientist/ Senior Research Associate, Cancer Immunotherapy (Solid Tumor)

Fate Therapeutics is seeking a talented and motivated individual to join our cancer immunotherapy team. Our rapidly growing team is central to Fate Therapeutics’ quest to develop best in class allogeneic ‘off-the-shelf’ adoptive cell therapy products. The successful candidate will help in leading the development of novel cell products, while playing a key role in executing on strategies to modulate 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 T 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 Senior Scientist, Cancer Immunotherapy, and is located at our corporate headquarters in San Diego, CA.
Responsibilities

• Leverage T cell biology expertise in collaborative efforts with Scientists, Associate Scientists and Research Associates to develop, influence and enhance our understanding of innovative iPSC derived T cell products.
• Design, plan, execute, and manage proof of concept studies spanning multiple programs to assess cell therapy products’ function and potential efficacy.
• Execute viral vector-based modification of cell lines and primary cells.
• Generate primary human cell material, 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 T 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 to maintain conditions that are conducive to excellent scientific work. 

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Immunology, Biology, or related biological science field with 5+ years of relevant industry/academic experience.
• 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 are 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.
• Understanding of tumor-immune cell interactions, with a central focus on T cell biology,  solid tumor microenvironment (TME) knowledge and in vivo CDX tumor modelling.
• 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 working in a fast-paced environment and 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.