Principal Scientist

Position Summary:

The Principal Scientist will be instrumental in helping Precision achieve its goals of delivering exceptional services to Precision’s diverse, innovative and global biopharmaceutical clients. Working closely with the Senior Vice President, Lab Operations they will help implement the strategic scientific plan to support translational medicine research, primarily, but not solely, in the Immuno-Oncology and autoimmune/inflammatory space. Key components will be focused on, design and development of innovative qualified and validated immunophenotyping (including high content flow cytometry assays up to 31 markers, receptor occupancy assays, tetramer/dextramer assays as well as immunophenotyping flow based assays), and antigen specific (ELISpot/Fluorospot) or other custom cell based assays. The successful candidate will assist and be a resource for senior team members to design experimental plans and timelines, that match client specifications/requirements. They should and be able to communicate the plan and progress to the client, along with executing and reporting the work according to agreed timelines and under the appropriate regulations (GLP, CAP, CLIA etc.). A significant aspect of this job is the training and mentoring of more junior scientists and team members in bioservices both in laboratory techniques and in the analysis and presentation of data. The role will provide technical expertise to the laboratory as needed, as well as the expectation is that a large part of training is provided “hands on”.

Essential functions of the job include but are not limited to: 

• Provide mentoring, coaching and team leadership to Flow Laboratory team members, hold one-on-one engagement meetings with direct reports, set goals, conduct performance reviews and set priorities for lab work
• Motivate team, share knowledge on FACS, participate in recruitment process and revenue forecasting
• Design and implement cell-based assays to meet client requirements; may include complex flow immunophenotyping assays, primary cell based assays.
• Write and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to perform assays to meet client requirements and the level of regulatory compliance needed
• Utilize current SOPs to perform cell assays such as flow immunophenotyping, ELISpot, and other custom cell based assays.
• Generate technical reports and other communications required to present data to clients
• Write posters and papers for submission to conference organizers and peer reviewed journals
• Write reviews and white papers
• On occasion, review and edit client proposals, contract/proposals as appropriate.
• Train scientific staff in the review and presentation of data; including client reports, posters and papers for peer reviewed journals
• Train technical staff how to perform laboratory procedures. Devise and perform validation schema to ensure staff are superbly trained and competent. Maintain and support safe lab practices and environment
• Track and trend laboratory efficiency and quality
• Perform duties with high degree of independence, quality, and efficiency
• Act as internal expert on technical advances and industry trends to anticipate and act as a thought leader to management on all matters of major importance, initiate and/or recommend appropriate courses of action and identify those matters requiring policy interpretation or revision

Promote the company to local, regional, national, and international constituencies through networking, speaking engagements, activity in professional associations and publications

Qualifications:

Minimum Required:

• Must have a Ph.D. in life sciences or relevant field (preferably Immunology, Cellular Biology)
• At least 8 years of full-time post-doctoral laboratory experience

Other Required:

• Strong bench scientist skills around cell-based assays. Hands on flow cytometry experience is required. Preferably with experience in ELISpot and other cell based assays. Core competencies of standard biology laboratory experience e.g. cell isolation, and primary cell based assays.
• Experience with cell sorting, trouble-shooting and client relationships, alliance partnerships and timelines
• Experience in validation/qualification of assays to CAP/CLIA/GLP or ISO guidelines
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong communication skills
• Experienced technical report generation
• The ability to see and differentiate between colors on the full color spectrum
• Ability to lift and carry between 1-15 lbs.; Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. overhead with assistance; frequently required to sit, grasp, and use right/left finger dexterity; May be exposed to a cold freezer environment (Freezer temperatures range between -20ºC -196ºC)
• Must be able to read, write, speak fluently and comprehend the English language

Preferred:

• 10-15+ years’ experience as CORE lab member with leadership role as direct manager to flow cytometry team
• Industrial experience and/or management of outside collaborations is desirable
• Experience with viral infections; cell culture and cell line derivation; nucleic acid (RNA & DNA) extraction from primary human samples; nucleic acid characterization by spectrophotometer, Agilent, and fluorescence-based detection