Senior Associate Scientist, Vaccine Downstream Bioprocess Development

The Senior Associate Scientist in Downstream Bioprocess Development plays an essential role in the Zoetis biopharmaceutical and vaccine strategies for veterinary medicine. The successful applicant will work as a junior team member in the development of purification processes in support of global product development and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacture of veterinary biologics and recombinant proteins. The successful candidate is expected to work hands-on at the bench with appropriate direction while providing technical guidance to project teams within the discipline of biological manufacturing sciences. The Senior Associate Scientist is expected to work on cross-functional project teams in partnership with colleagues in early research, bacteriology, virology, formulation development, regulatory, and bioanalytical sciences. To be successful, they will have basic knowledge of chromatographic and filtration processes for processing traditional biologics antigens and purifying proteins from both mammalian and prokaryotic expression systems. They will serve as a technical resource within the line and will have a working knowledge of related bioprocessing unit operations such as cell culture, fermentation, formulation, and analytical characterization as it pertains to their workstream. The position is based in Kalamazoo (Michigan, USA) with frequent interactions with colleagues and external partners located around the globe.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and optimization of robust, economical processes for biologics antigen production and for purification processes for recombinant proteins.
• Collaborate with pilot and manufacturing colleagues to successfully transfer developed processes to a commercial environment.
• Perform process characterization studies on process steps (including DOE approaches) to identify and define proven design and operational spaces with each process
• Serve as a technical resource for chromatography and filtration (cross-flow and dead-end) methods related to both therapeutic proteins and vaccines antigen targets.
• Perform antigen purification and/or viral and bacterial concentration to support mono- and multivalent vaccine development.
• Author protocols, study reports, and technology transfer documents that will support technology transfer within the company or to contract manufacturers and well as to support regulatory filings for new product registrations.
• Represent DSP and Process Development on interdisciplinary project teams.
• Contribute at the technical level to the direction of the team and guide decision making in the context of DSP or process development as a whole.
• Maintain electronic laboratory notebooks and records in accord with scientific protocol and applicable Standard Operating Procedures.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, chemical or biochemical engineering, or a related discipline and 3+ years of relevant academic and/or industry experience in DSP; OR MS degree 2+ years of relevant academic and/or industry experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Theoretical knowledge in the scientific disciplines that support downstream processing such as protein chemistry, biotechnology, and biochemistry.
• Hands-on practical experience in the tools used for downstream processing including multiple modalities of chromatography, cross-flow and dead-end filtration, cell disruption and removal, and supporting analytical techniques including UV-Vis spectrophotometry, gel electrophoresis, HPLC, and protein assays.
• Practical experience with automated chromatography software such as Unicorn (AKTA Explorer, Pure, and/or Pilot).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven record of strong communication and teamwork skills Ability to multi-task
• Ability to design and analyze multi-factorial experiments
• Self-motivated and attention to detail

Full timeRegularColleague

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