Scientist II, In Vitro Gene Therapy

Scientist II , In Vitro Gene Therapy

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:

As a member of Systems Biology team, the Scientist II will have important roles including creation of new platforms related to in vitro studies with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived 2D/3D models, conducting experiments for preclinical programs, and supporting other team members through management of outsourcing activities and internal/external collaborations.

Responsibilities:

• Establishes in-house capability to conduct in vitro studies with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac 3D models (e.g., engineered heart tissue, heart organoid) by developing differentiation protocols and methodologies for analyzing their features.
• Designs key experiments with iPSC-derived models based on reviews of scientific literature and recent advances in related fields.
• Supports ongoing and upcoming programs by conducting in vitro experiments with iPSCs and iPSC-derived models as follows: differentiating iPSCs into neuronal and the other types of cells as needed, in-house screening of capsids and AAV constructs, in vitro PoM/PoC studies, potency assays, and genome editing of iPSCs.
• Develop semi- and fully automation protocols for differentiation and in vitro assays with iPSC-derived models through internal collaborations.
• Manages outsourced activities and internal/external collaborations.
• Supervise/train research associate(s) and other scientist(s) for in vitro studies with iPSC-derived models.
• Prepares and communicates presentations including scientific strategy of programs, data, and data interpretation to audiences at varying levels of knowledge and expertise.
• Flexibility to perform unanticipated duties as assigned or special projects as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in developmental biology, cell or molecular biology, or related disciplines with 2+ years' experience in maintaining and differentiating iPSCs to various cell types.
• Specialized expertise on cardiac disease, with experience in differentiating iPSCs into cardiomyocyte and cardiac 3D models and analyzing their functional features.
• Proven ability to work in cross-functional teams and as an independent researcher.
• Ability to perform in a highly team-oriented environment, be self-driven, and possess good problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with tact, diplomacy, and credibility in order to work effectively with research associates and project team members.
• Deep understanding about the importance of ethics/compliance.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Previous work with viruses, especially Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV).
• Experience in differentiating iPSCs to neuronal cells and brain organoids and analyzing their functional features.
• Experience working with laboratory automation systems.
• Experiences in biotech/pharma research environment focused on iPSC-based drug discovery.
• Experience working with a multinational team of scientists.

Working Environment:

• This position is based on our South San Francisco R&D facility and will require on-site work.

Salary Range : $114,800 -$153,000 (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 - Discovery Bioscience

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

EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans