Scientist I

Onsite in San Diego CA.
Max Bill Rate ***
We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Contract Wet Lab Scientist to join our Discovery Biology team. This role is central to a high-priority binder screening campaign, where you will be responsible for executing the bench-level assays required to identify and validate Client therapeutic candidates for T-cell-based therapies.

Role Overview
The successful candidate will serve as a core operator within our screening funnel, focusing on the transition from binder discovery to functional validation. This is a contract position (typically 6–12 months) designed for a scientist who thrives at the bench and excels in the fast-paced environment of a drug discovery campaign. The primary objective is to characterize the potency, specificity, and safety of candidate binders—such as scFvs or VHHs—within the context of engineered T-cell responses.

Key Responsibilities
A significant portion of this role involves the non-viral engineering of T cells. You will be responsible for delivering genetic material (such as mRNA or transposon-based DNA systems) into primary human T cells using advanced electroporation or nucleofection platforms. Following transfection, you will monitor cell viability and recovery, ensuring high-efficiency expression of synthetic receptors before proceeding to functional testing.

Beyond engineering, you will execute high-throughput screening assays to assess binder affinity and functionality. This includes maintaining and expanding primary human T cells and Jurkat cell lines using impeccable aseptic techniques. You will perform multi-color flow cytometry (FACS) to evaluate surface expression levels and phenotypic markers, using software like FlowJo to analyze and interpret the resulting data.

Functional characterization is a critical component of this campaign. You will be expected to run a variety of assays to measure T-cell activation, including cytotoxicity assays (using IncuCyte live-cell imaging or LDH release) and cytokine profiling via ELISA, MSD, or Luminex. You will also track T-cell proliferation using dyes like CFSE. All experimental procedures, including precise protocol deviations and raw data, must be recorded meticulously in an Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) to ensure data integrity for regulatory filings.

Qualifications and Requirements
Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related biological science. We require at least 2 years of hands-on wet lab experience, preferably within an industry setting. Mastery of aseptic technique and experience in isolating primary T cells from PBMCs is essential.

Expertise in flow cytometry acquisition and analysis is a non-negotiable requirement for this role. Preference will be given to candidates who have direct experience with non-viral transfection methods and those who are comfortable using liquid-handling robotics to scale screening efforts. Strong communication skills are vital, as you will be expected to present clear, data-driven updates during weekly campaign sprint meetings.