Umoja Biopharma is a game-changing biotech start-up with locations in Seattle, WA and Louisville, CO, focused on transforming the treatment of cancer with a novel integrated immunotherapy platform. Our vision is to develop off-the-shelf therapies capable of treating any tumor, any time. We are a diverse and growing team working in brand-new facilities in downtown Seattle, Washington, and Louisville, Colorado, and we are looking for innovative thinkers who are excited by groundbreaking science and technology, and passionate about squaring up to the challenges inherent to cutting edge drug development. We are committed to the principles of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and strongly invite applications from enthusiastic individuals who share our commitment and help position Umoja as a leader in this front.
We at Umoja believe in the importance of stories; we are looking for great people to join our team to help us create more stories for ourselves, for you, and most importantly for patients and their families. Umoja Biopharma – Your Body. Your Hope. Your Cure.
POSITION SUMMARY
This Senior Research Associate role will support the product and process development (PPD) team with process development, characterization and scale up. This position will focus primarily on downstream purification with a focus on planning and execution of experiments. This will require cross-functional collaboration with groups such as the upstream product and process development team, the analytical development team (AD) and manufacturing sciences and technology (MSAT) teams to plan, execute, scale up and transfer new and optimized processes.
A successful candidate should have a solid understanding of purification techniques such as chromatography, tangential flow filtration (TFF) and sterile filtration.CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES
Specific responsibilities include:
- Execute experiments for developing optimized and novel purification operations including depth filtration, chromatography, TFF, and sterile filtration
- Perform buffer/solution preparation while assuring proper labeling, handling, storage, and disposal of all chemicals and solutions
- Utilize knowledge of purification fundamentals to troubleshoot unexpected results and events
- Plan and coordinate execution of experiments in collaboration with the larger PPD, AD, and MSAT teams
- Identify opportunities for process and laboratory execution improvements
- Maintain familiarity with current scientific literature, maintain and update knowledge of current and new purification techniques and instrumentation
- Support experimental design, execution, analysis, interpretation and presentation to multiple levels within the organization
- Provide input to Process Development strategy and life-cycle management plans
- Occasional support for other related team including Upstream PPD and MSAT
The successful candidate will have:
- BS/MS in biology, biochemistry, bioengineering or other relevant field with 3+ years of relevant experience; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
- Expertise in operating lab-scale chromatography systems, TFF systems, and other auxiliary equipment such as balances, pumps, and pH/conductivity meters
- Experience with experimental design, planning, execution, and basic data analysis
- Experience working in GxP environments
- Experience working with electronic notebooks
- Strong team communication and collaboration skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with ÄKTATM Chromatography systems and UNICORNTM software
- Experience with TFF and other filtration equipment including the KrosFlo® KR2i RPMTM and Ambr® Crossflow systems
- Experience with chromatography, TFF, sterile filtration and other purification operations
- Familiarity with upstream process operations including shake flasks and small-scale bioreactors
- Familiarity with analytical methods including ELISAs, qPCR, ddPCR, etc.
- Experience in clinical phase process development
- Technical transfer experience, scale up/down and site transfers
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work onsite 5 days a week
- Requires ability to perform standard stem cell/viral/biological wet lab work with appropriate PPE
Salary Range: $82,500 - $100,000
Benefits Offerings
Umoja Biopharma offers its employees competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans. Additionally, we offer Umojians access to a 401k plan through Fidelity, with a 100% match up to their first 6% deferral. Umoja also provides a generous Paid Time Off policy, employee commuter benefits, and cell phone stipend. For a full breakdown of our benefits offerings, please see the Benefits section of our website.
