Research Scientist II/Senior - Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing (Open Rank)

Overview

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our Strategic Plan. These values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

About The Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) and MC3M at the Georgia Institute of Technology

IBB was founded in 1995, opening the doors of the Petit Biotechnology Building in 1999, and since that time it has served as a catalyst for innovative bioengineering and bioscience research. Learn more about IBB here https://research.gatech.edu/bio. The Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing is housed within IBB. Learn more about The Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing here https://marcuscellmanufacturing.gatech.edu/.

Atlanta, GA

The Marcus Center of Excellence for Cell Biomanufacturing (https://marcuscellmanufacturing.gatech.edu/) is seeking a highly motivated individual with experience in cell and molecular biology, biomedical engineering, and cell therapy. The Marcus Center offers a unique research environment that brings together bioengineers, bioprocess/manufacturing engineers, and industrial engineers to work closely with cell biologists, clinicians, and industry partners to ultimately make cell therapy manufacturing reliable, reproducible, and amenable for broad clinical use. Our researchers are a diverse team with various skill sets that complement the many research projects involving several types of cells with the potential for clinical therapies. We perform high-throughput and high-dimensional characterization, develop performance assays, develop cell manufacturing technologies, and use multivariate predictive modeling to achieve our goal of advancing the future of cell therapeutics and manufacturing.

Our research focuses on multi-omics analyses for characterization, performance evaluation, culture and process development, and new technology integration supporting cell therapies and immunotherapies including mesenchymal stromal cells, immune cells (including Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cells) and induced pluripotent stem cells. We are looking for a highly motivated and creative engineer or scientist to join this dynamic team and contribute to solidify the Center's position as a premier authority of cell characterization, manufacturing, and scale-up process development. The ideal candidate would offer their expertise and experience in multi-omic analyses and associated computational modeling, analytical and biological assay development, process development/design of experiments, scale out or up platforms, gene editing techniques, and knowledge of stem cell biology, immunology, and/or oncology. The candidate will be expected to lead projects, work collaboratively with our team of researchers, work closely with Center Leadership, and represent Marcus Center quality, standards and integrity in all aspects and activities. This role requires hands-on lab work to teach, mentor, and grow other scientists. Grant and manuscript writing are expected, along with business strategy and sustainability planning with Center leadership. Some Holiday or weekend time may be necessary. Some travel may be required.

• Coordinate efforts between researchers (internal and external to the Center) and support managerial duties
• Support day-to-day activities and operations - including project budgets, status, purchasing.
• Lead projects and project teams
• Lead and support grant submissions to further expand Center's research reach and capabilities.
• Manage sponsored research work and relationships with collaborators, including establishment of new projects and relationships.
• Oversee maintenance of documentation for project reporting
• Manage, develop and train other scientists.
• Report progress through presentations and monthly reports
• Develop timelines and coordinate experiments based on priority analyses and milestones.
• Maintain and grow working relationships across Georgia Tech core facilities.
• Understand and support the Center's cleanroom facility operations.
• Develop and perform in vitro assays and standard operating procedures.
• Train and perform routine assays, data acquisition and analyses.
• Assist with general lab maintenance and systems.
• Represent the Center at scientific conferences, educational meetings, and standards working groups.

This position vacancy is an open rank announcement. Final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook https://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty-handbook/3.2.1-research-faculty-hiringand-promotion-guidelines

Research Scientist II

• Master's degree in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, or other related field and three (3) years relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, or
• Master's degree in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, or other related field and five (5) years of relevant full-time experience after the completion of a Bachelor's degree, or
• Doctoral degree in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, or other related field.

Senior Research Scientist

• Master's degree in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, or other related field and seven (7) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, or
• Master's degree in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, or other related field and nine (9) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree, or
• Doctoral degree in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, or other related field and four (4) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree.

• Ability to deliver results in a fast-paced cross-functional environment, in the absence of set procedures and oversight.
• A publication history in the fields of Molecular/Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Cell and Gene Therapy, or other Cell Therapy/Biology related field
• Expertise and proficiency with benchtop techniques, cell culture, and analyses common in Molecular/Cell Biology and Bioengineering fields (e.g. statistical programs, sterile technique, bioreactors)
• Strong experience in cell-based biological research
• Background in mammalian cell culture, specifically iPSCs, MSCs, and/or immune cells
• Cell characterization techniques (ex. Potency assay, Multi-channel Flow Cytometry, Extraction, Isolation, and Analysis of Protein, DNA, RNA, Biophysical and Morphological assessments)
• Proficiency in Microsoft office and graphical software
• Strong skillset for data interpretation, project management, scientific writing, presentation of data
• Effective communication of technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.
• Proficiency in R, Python and/or programming languages; understanding and application of machine learning techniques and basic data science tools.
• Understanding of computational biology and/or bioinformatics
• Experience with gene editing, iPSCs, MSCs, T-cells, NK-cells, or other clinically applicable cell therapeutic product
• Knowledge of immunology and oncology
• Experience with next generation and single-cell sequencing data and bioinformatic analysis
• Experience working with clinical trial sites and data.
• Experience leading technical/scientific projects.

Student Success Criteria

• The ability to promote a welcoming educational/work environment.
• The ability to engage students in experiential learning activities and pedagogy that support student success.
• The ability to engage in high-impact practices that support deep learning for student success.

Salary range for this position is between $49,393 - $101,585.14. Salary will be commensurate with experience and education.

Please attach a CV/resume, cover letter, and a list of three professional references.

For additional information about this job opening, please contact the Search Chair, Dr. Shivaram Selvam, sselvam@gatech.edu

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

More information on these policies can be found here: https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/c2714 Board of Regents Policy Manual | University System of Georgia (usg.edu).

This role is primarily dependent on sponsored research. All employment and assignments are ultimately contingent upon funding.

The candidate of choice will be required to pass a pre-employment background screening. http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening.