• Research Associate II, Discovery Bioscience

    Astellas Pharma (South San Francisco, CA)


    Research Associate II, Discovery Bioscience

     

    Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

     

    Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at **www.astellas.com** .

     

    About Astellas Gene Therapies

     

    Astellas Gene Therapies is an Astellas Center of Excellence developing genetic medicines for patients with rare, life-threatening diseases. Based on our innovative approach to developing genetic medicines, as well as our industry-leading internal manufacturing capability and expertise, we have become the Astellas Center of Excellence for their newly created Genetic Regulation Focus Area. We are currently exploring three gene therapy modalities: gene replacement, exon skipping gene therapy, and vectorized RNA knockdown, with plans to expand our focus and geographic reach under Astellas. We are based in San Francisco, with manufacturing and laboratory facilities in South San Francisco and Sanford, North Carolina. For more information, please visit our website: www.astellasgenetherapies.com.

    The Role:

    The Research Associate will be an integral member of the Vector Bioscience team and assist in developing, characterizing, and producing AAV vectors. The Research Associate will work at our South San Francisco R&D laboratories, supporting and collaborating with various research and development groups.

    Responsibilities:

    + Perform cell culture work, including thawing, maintaining, transfecting, and cryopreserving cell lines

    + Production and purification of AAV vectors for various programs

    + Collaborate with other teams to acquire and characterize vectors

    + Document characterization of vectors and other activities

    + Communicate results and timelines to other functional groups

    + Collaborate in laboratory management and safety activities

    Required Qualifications:

    + Bachelor’s degree in a life science, chemical engineering or related discipline with 3+ years of experience or a Master’s degree with 1+ years of experience in cell culture and protein purification techniques.

    + Proven hands-on experience with sterile technique for handling and growing mammalian cell lines, including maintenance, cell characterization and differentiation, expansion, and banking

    + Experience with purification and chromatography systems such as the AKTA

    + Demonstrated experience with routine molecular biology techniques (cloning, DNA/RNA/protein isolation, digital PCR), plasmid preparation

    + Protein expression and purification, and characterization

    + Transfection and/or transformation experience with mammalian or bacterial cells.

    + Ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented environment to meet project goals and timelines

    + Strong written and verbal communication skills

    Preferred:

    + Experience working with viruses, especially Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)

    + Industry experience

    **Salary Range:** $67,200- $96,000 (NOTE: Final salary could be more or less, based on experience)

    Benefits:

    + Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

    + Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks

    + 401(k) match and annual company contribution

    + Company paid life insurance

    + Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions

    + Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions

    + Referral bonus program

     

    _All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability._

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    Category GT Engineering

     

    Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.

     

    EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans