The Opportunity
Fortis partners with diagnostics and life sciences companies to design, validate, and manufacture solutions to solve their complex development problems. Fortis’ tailored approach and end-to-end capabilities accelerate the work of its customers as they bring the next generation of medicines and diagnostics to market. Fortis serves a global customer base and has offices across the world including four R&D sites and three GMP and ISO 13485 compliant manufacturing facilities in North America.
Vector Biolabs, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Life Sciences, located in Malvern, PA specializes in custom production of AAV and adenoviral vectors for gene delivery. You’ll be working in a fast-growing and rewarding organization where employees are driven by their passion to learn and make a difference in the world.
The senior scientist contributes to the execution of Vector’s AAV processes with establishment of core processes and analytical testing to support vector manufacturing. Must be detail-oriented, highly motivated, process oriented and willing to develop new processes where they do not exist.
What You Will Do
- Broad hands-on expertise in AAV production covering both upstream and downstream processes.
- Act as subject matter expert in troubleshooting both the upstream and downstream processes and drive improvement as needed.
- Demonstrated expertise in working with commonly used viral production systems, such as adhesive and suspension HEK293 cells and in transfection parameter optimization.
- Extensive knowledge of AAV vector design and development and the ability to troubleshoot is necessary.
- Extensive knowledge of downstream processes and the ability to troubleshoot is required, including harvest clarification, concentration and diafiltration, affinity and anion exchange chromatography (AEX), and ultracentrifugation (iodixanol and CsCl).
- Extensive experience in AAV related analytical methods, such as qPCR, dPCR, DLS, TEM, AUC, hcDNA and PAGE/ agarose gel electrophoresis, western blotting, DLS/DSF, ELISA, infectivity and sterility/endotoxin assays are necessary.
- Knowledge and familiarity with start-of-the art research tools, such as shRNA and microRNA are preferred.
- Develop new analytical procedures and adoption of new tools and methods tailored to the analysis of quality and performance of AAV/AdV components and finished products; and use judgement in their adoption as standard procedures.
- Analyze experimental results and formulate conclusions for presentation to key stakeholders.
- Prepare SOPs, technical reports, summaries, protocols, and quantitative analyses for all experimental results.
- Collaborate with external partners to ensure timely delivery of viral vectors to support internal and external stakeholder’s process
- Perform other tasks as assigned by management, which may not be listed above, that are necessary to accomplish our goal of improving lives by supporting scientific discovery.
Who You Are & What You Bring
Education / Background
- PhD or Master’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or related discipline required
- 5+ years’ experience in a relevant scientific field
- Experience with AAV or Adenovirus laboratory scale production is desirable
- Extensive expertise in AAV vector design and/or expression construct engineering, viral production, purification, and characterization in a biotechnology setting.
- Industry experience and working in a manufacturing setting is desirable.
- Previous management experience is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Able to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues
- Proficient with MS Office applications
- Extensive working knowledge of GLP is necessary and it is preferable to have experience in GMP.
- Experience with mammalian cell culture, general cellular and molecular biology laboratory techniques required.
- Hands on experience with bioreactor and media optimization is preferred.
What We Offer
We have an incredibly talented group of intelligent, down-to-earth individuals who are committed to developing and manufacturing only the highest quality products. Our mission: “Pursuing a Healthier World by Creating Tomorrow’s Science Today” is complemented by our core values (EXCITE):
Excellence – We believe in solving for root cause. No shortcuts, no “band-aids”
Customer First – We prioritize the experience and outcomes of our customers above all.
Integrity – We are honest and accountable, holding ourselves to a high standard of ethical conduct.
Trust – We believe an engaged, empowered team begins with a foundation of trust. We trust our team members to make the right decisions and to be driven by and evaluated on results.
Entrepreneurship – We encourage smart risk taking. We value novel mistakes in the pursuit of innovation.
Fortis provides a competitive salary, success-sharing bonus plan, medical, dental, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) plan. We are an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are an E-Verify Employer in the United States.