FSP - Scientist - Transient Expression

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Laboratory Setting, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)

Job Description

This is a fully onsite role based at our customer’s site in San Diego, CA. We welcome applicants from all locations within the US. Please note that relocation assistance is not provided for this position, and any relocation costs will be the responsibility of the candidate.  

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. 

Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening. 

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while taking science a step beyond through research, development and delivery of life-changing therapies. With clinical trials conducted in 100+ countries and ongoing development of novel frameworks for clinical research through our PPD clinical research portfolio, our work spans laboratory, digital and decentralized clinical trial services. Your determination to deliver quality and accuracy will improve health outcomes that people and communities depend on – now and in the future.

Thermo Fisher's clinical research business is a leading global contract research organization and world leader in serving science. We are passionate, deliberate, and driven by our mission – to enable our customers to make the world healthier, safer, and cleaner.

Our Laboratories Functional Service Partnership (FSP) team plays a direct role in advancing drug development by creating sustained groups of talent within our customers’ organizations to provide long-term support. Through this collaborative approach, our professionals bring their commitment to excellence, industry knowledge, and operational strength directly into customer environments, helping to enhance capabilities and advance the delivery of life-changing therapies.

Key responsibilities:

The role encompasses the production of monoclonal antibodies and other proteins via molecular cloning, DNA preparation, cell line maintenance, transient transfection of production cell lines, and stable cell line production. Some experience with AAV expression is also desirable but not required. The candidate is expected to design and perform studies while also working collaboratively with colleagues across the R&D organization to support the development of biological therapeutics. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in producing proteins from mammalian cell culture, preferably in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company setting.

• Assist with cell culture, transient transfection, expression optimization, DNA preparation, and protein quantification
• Culture mammalian cell lines for DNA transfection with rigorous sterile technique
• Explore potential improvements to the existing protein expression platform under the direction of a senior scientist.
• Optimize experimental procedures drawing on available literature and previous results
• Partner in the development of a stable cell line expression platform for research purposes
• Work with bioreactors for transient and stable CHO expression
• Prepare detailed data reports and presents results to peers and colleagues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in lab sciences such as Chemistry, Biochemistry, Material Science, Immunology, Biology, Molecular Biology or similar
• Scientist: Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 2+ years’)
• OR Masters degree

In some cases, an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience with cell culture and transient transfection in CHO and HEK293 cells
• Experience with antibody expression/production
• Knowledge of stable cell line development
• Knowledge of protein expression using a bioreactor
• Experience with AAV expression would be highly desirable
• Knowledge of standard molecular biology cloning techniques is a plus
• Able to execute experiments efficiently and suggest small process improvements

• Recognizes fundamental anomalies in data points and identifies issues in experiments / processes

• Begins to understand how to think outside of the technical process and consider the impact decisions will have on the broader scientific goals

• Strong knowledge of scientific discipline

• Good knowledge of scientific principles, methods and techniques

• Good knowledge and demonstrated ability working with a variety of laboratory equipment/tools

• Strong computer skills

• Good problem-solving, analytical thinking skills

• Detail oriented

• Ability to meet deadlines

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional scientists
• Ability to maintain accurate detailed documentation of experiments essential 
• Willingness and ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Working Environment:

Below is listed the working environment/requirements for this role:

Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.

Able to work upright and stationary and/or standing for typical working hours.

Able to lift and move objects up to 25 pounds

Able to work in non-traditional work environments.

Able to use and learn standard office equipment and technology with

proficiency.

May have exposure to potentially hazardous elements, including infectious agents, typically found in healthcare or laboratory environments.

Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities.

Benefits

We offer competitive remuneration, annual incentive plan bonus, healthcare, and a range of employee benefits. Thermo Fisher Scientific offers employment with an innovative, forward-thinking organization, and outstanding career and development prospects. We offer an exciting company culture that stands for integrity, intensity, involvement, and innovation!

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly pay range estimated for this position based in California is $34.00–$40.50.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards