Scientist - Cell Line Development

Scientist – Cell Line Development

Catalent is seeking a Scientist - Cell Line Development to support the creation, selection, and evaluation of high-producing mammalian cell lines using our proprietary GPEx® suite of technologies and transfection platforms.

This role contributes to projects across multiple development stages, from initial vector insertion through clonal selection and research cell banking for client and internal programs. The successful candidate will combine strong laboratory bench expertise with cell culture techniques, data analysis, and technical client communication to deliver high-quality cell lines for biologic therapies.

About Catalent Madison:

Catalent's Madison, Wisconsin facility is a state-of-the-art biologics development and manufacturing site supporting customers from research through early- and mid-stage clinical production. Located at 726 Heartland Trail, the 102,700-square-foot GMP facility specializes in mammalian cell line engineering, drug substance manufacturing, and biopharmaceutical process development.

The site is home to Catalent's proprietary GPEx® and GPEx® Lightning technologies, enabling the generation of high-producing mammalian cell lines for biologic therapies. With production capabilities ranging from 50L to 4,000L and a recent $45 million expansion, the Madison campus continues to play a critical role in Catalent's global biologics network while supporting Wisconsin's growing life sciences industry.

Location: 100% Onsite at our facility in Madison, Wisconsin

Shift: Monday – Friday, First Shift

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform bench-scale cell culture work, including cell bank vial thaws, transfection, seed train scale-up, and cell line expansion within biosafety cabinets.
• Execute cell pool creation, fed-batch productivity testing, clonal selection, and research cell bank creation stored in liquid nitrogen.
• Conduct stability testing post-Master Cell Bank (MCB) creation and coordinate hand-offs with Upstream Process Development (US PD) for bioreactor evaluation.
• Analyze experimental data using statistical software (DoE) and maintain detailed Batch Production Records (BPRs) and laboratory documentation in accordance with SOPs.
• Author and review technical documents, including study protocols, batch records, test reports, and standard operating procedures.
• Serve as a technical resource for internal teams and external clients by communicating project progress, utilizing standard templates to present data, and supporting technical project execution.
• Support essential laboratory operations, equipment maintenance and cleaning, lab stocking, and 5S organization.
• Other responsibilities as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with a minimum of 6 years relevant experience, Master's degree with a minimum of 3 years relevant experience, or PhD with 0–2 years relevant experience.

• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, aseptic techniques, biosafety cabinet operations, and routine cell culture maintenance.

• Ability to independently execute, analyze, and document complex laboratory experiments in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong technical writing skills and understanding of documentation practices, data integrity requirements, and protocol/report authoring.

• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret biological data, identify process improvements, and communicate technical findings clearly.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and standard lab data systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with transfections, cell bank creation, or cell line development workflows.

• Experience transitioning from upstream manufacturing or biomanufacturing roles into cell line development.

• Working knowledge of statistical analysis tools, including Design of Experiments (DOE) and JMP.

• Familiarity with high-throughput platforms (such as Beacon or Ambr systems) or bench-scale bioreactors.

• Previous client-facing communication or technical presentation experience.

Why you should join Catalent:

• Opportunity to play a key role in driving growth within a global CDMO leader.

• Competitive compensation package, including incentive opportunity.

• Day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401(k) with company match.

• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities.

• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule (152 hours + 8 holidays.)

• Collaborative, mission-driven culture focused on improving patient outcomes worldwide.

Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career!  Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference. 

personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.

Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to [email protected]. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.

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