Northreach is a dynamic recruitment agency that connects businesses with top talent in the Advanced Therapies sector. Our mission is to provide a seamless and personalised recruitment experience for clients and candidates, and to create a positive work environment that encourages equality, innovation, and professional growth.
We have partnered with a biotechnology start-up who is developing a synthetic biology platform for in vivo cell engineering, aiming to treat genetic diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer by delivering genetic algorithms to cells. They are seeking a Scientist in T Cell Engineering to join their Discovery Research team, focused on designing and testing synthetic DNA constructs and advancing engineered cell therapies using genome editing.
The scientist will be responsible for designing and implementing novel strategies that enable the delivery of different gene medicine payloads to T Cells. Additionally, the scientist will develop novel assays to determine the phenotype, efficacy and potency of these T Cells from both a platform and therapeutic perspective.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Planning and execution of a wide range of robust experiments, technical studies, and tasks, working independently based on protocols and in line with departmental objectives. • Assaying of our engineered delivery vehicle using flow cytometry, western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence.
- Inform and implement the design of novel genetic constructs for use in T Cell engineering • Development of robust T Cell engineering platform for the quantification of our delivery vehicles potency
- Development of T Cell functionality assays to determine their functionality and efficacy post engineering
- Cell culture (propagation, banking, characterisation) of cell lines and primary cells.
- Liaise with programme leaders and matrix team members for data exchange and cell culture/experimental planning Scientist T Cell Engineering
- Timely, accurate recording and analysis of results and compliance with data integrity procedures.
- Timely presentation of data to the department and wider company.
- Contribution to critical interpretation of data to draw results driven hypotheses, with influence on project/function direction.
- Working to existing SOPs and risk assessments and contribution to generating new ones as appropriate.
EXPERIENCE
- A PhD with experience in T Cell biology (or equivalent experience gained in industry). Engineering of T Cells for the purpose of CAR-T generation with Lentiviral or CRISPR based systems is a plus.
- Knowledge of T Cell differentiation, subtypes, transcription factors involved and their relevance to function.
- Experience handling and culturing a range of cell lines.
- Experience with lentiviral vector design, production and transduction of T Cells
- Preferably, experience with CRISPR based editing of primary human T Cells, both KO and KI
- Experience with genetic approaches for quantifying T Cell engineering outcomes.
- Experience with assays of T Cell functionality and potency, especially in the context of CAR-T.
- Strong experience with flow cytometry-based assays
- Experience with single cell sequencing assay would be a benefit.
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Meticulous in record keeping, and able to keep track of and co-ordinate large numbers of ongoing projects
Northreach is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and hiring practices, therefore only partner with business that promote DEI. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees.