Interested in a career in Life Sciences? Based on the Cambridge Research Park (near Waterbeach), Horizon is part of the Perkin Elmer family. Our mission is to accelerate the speed of life-saving medicines to the market by providing researchers in the pharma & biotech community with world-class cell-based assay and cell line engineering research services that are dedicated to understanding and interrogating the biology behind genomics, oncology, and the immune system.
With Innovative Thinking, We Are Changing Things For The Better. Our dedicated team of employees worldwide is passionate about helping customers work to create healthier families, improve the quality of life, and sustain the well-being and longevity of people globally.
As a Senior Scientist in the Cell Line Development group, you will be responsible for applying your deep scientific knowledge and expertise of gene editing, cell culture and molecular biology to undertake specialist tasks, troubleshoot, oversee training and quality assurance and promote continuous improvement in support of the successful provision of cell line engineering services.
Our teams work in a manufacturing-style format using modular workflows to maximise throughput, efficiency, and on-time delivery. You will have the opportunity to use CRISPR-Cas9 and other gene modulation technologies, laboratory automation and information management systems and work in a collaborative, inclusive, team environment.
This is a lab-based role with a strong focus on maximising day-to-day efficiency within defined quality standards, processes, and timelines. Candidates should be organised, self-motivated, pro-active, solution finders, who are flexible in their approach and thrive in a dynamic environment, working to tight timelines.
Key Responsibilities
With a quality mindset, contribute to the execution of mammalian cell line development projects. In your daily activities you will:
- Use various cell and molecular biology techniques, laboratory automation and lab information management systems (LIMS) to ensure projects move forward within the expected timelines and specifications
- Act as a molecular biology expert:
Undertake and supervise work involving targeting strategy, vector design, complex genotyping, non-standard and/or specialist techniques and assays.
Act as the go-to expert to help troubleshoot and investigate negative or questionable results and, when necessary, determine corrective action.
Analyse and interpret complex data, assess QC data and prepare reports of key outcomes/results.
Support cell line engineering Managers and help determine strategies and next steps for managing complex projects.
- Use in depth internal and external knowledge to identify process improvement opportunities and implement new ways of working that have a direct impact on productivity and/or quality:
Participate and/or lead projects that improve key processes that reduce lead time, improve quality, extend service offering or reduce cost.
Support the Process Development team with change evaluation projects, the roll out of changes and troubleshooting of issues arising.
Keep abreast of current techniques/technologies and relevant scientific literature to help identify opportunities for improvement.
- Act as lead on relevant training and quality activities, for example:
Prepare, conduct, and verify training to ensure that manufacturing tasks are consistently and repeatedly conducted in line with relevant SOPs, quality standards and laboratory best practice.
Lead or participate in CAPA investigations to identify root cause of errors/failure and formulate recommendations to learn, adapt and prevent recurrence.
- Be a role model within the group:
Communicate data and information clearly to your colleagues.
Use resources effectively, holding yourself and others accountable for high standards.
Be a champion in operational delivery and help direct day-to-day laboratory activities and report on milestones delivery.
Guide and mentor other team members.
Show high levels of motivation and demonstrate a positive, can-do attitude in your daily tasks.
You will also be required to work collaboratively and be an effective team member within our overall Cell-based Services Department, supporting your own and other groups, as appropriate.
About You:
To succeed in this role, you will need:
Relevant work experience after PhD (or equivalent experience).
To be highly experienced in the design, execution, analysis and interpretation of molecular biology-based assays to assess gene editing events (Primer design, PCR, qRT-PCR, ddPCR, Sanger sequencing, NGS etc), including hands-on experience with CRISPR-based genome editing techniques in mammalian cells.
To be experienced in cloning techniques such as restriction digests, Gibson assembly, transformations, plasmid preps. Advanced vector design work is a plus.
To be familiar with DNA analysis software like DNA Dynamo, SnapGene, Benchling, and experience with using various bioinformatics tools and data analysis packages.
To be experienced in mammalian cell culture, using excellent aseptic technique and have a good grounding in common cell biology assays/processes.
To have proven experience and enthusiasm for developing, adapting, improving or troubleshooting molecular biology processes/experiments with a proven ability to disseminate the experimental results of such activities e.g. in reports, presentations and/or peer reviewed journal publications.
An understanding of Quality and what a Production environment is in the context of the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry.
A strong interest in using laboratory automation and information management systems to produce high quality products.
To be self-aware with a diligent nature, good attention to detail and good record keeping skills and experience of performing in a busy team environment, working collaboratively to achieve shared goals and objectives.
You may also have:
Practical experience with liquid handling robotic equipment and/or information management systems (LIMS) (although full training will be provided).
Experience in applying in Lean methodologies (e.g. 5S, 8-wastes, Kaizen etc).
Industrial experience in a life science tools or biotechnology company.
Commercial awareness – Understanding of Cell Line Development market expectations and strategy.
If you are a molecular biology expert with a keen interest in learning to use laboratory automation and information management systems to deliver high quality cell lines to our customers, then we are looking for you!