Gene Therapy Downstream Process Scientist

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To strengthen our new Gene Therapy Bioprocess Development Department, based in Braine, Belgium we are looking for a talented individual to fill the position of: Gene Therapy Downstream Process Sciences Scientist.

The Gene Therapy (GT) Downstream Process Sciences Scientist will be responsible for supporting Downstream Process Development activities for UCB’s recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene therapy products. This individual will be accountable for design and execution of process development, characterization, and tech transfer of rAAV purification processes.

The Scientist will collaborate with internal and external contract laboratories to support development of downstream processes and definition of an AAV production platform for UCB’s gene therapy offerings.

The successful candidate will be part of a team of process scientists and engineers supporting the establishment and operation of a development and manufacturing facility for gene therapy products.

This role will be a scientific expert in the Gene Therapy organization at UCB and will start at a temporary site (approximately 1 hour from UCB site in Braine l’Alleud) to support laboratory activities, and will travel periodically to UCB site for department meetings. This individual will function remotely during the design and build of the new gene therapy laboratories then will move onsite to support start-up and operation of the development labs when the facility is online at Braine l’Alleud. Prior to the facility start-up the candidate may also travel (10%) to directly support operations in the United States.

You will more precisely contribute by:

• Independently design and execute experiments while seeking inputs from peers.
• Analyze, document and present regularly with a focus on problem-solving to downstream team members.
• Develop an understanding of AAV physical and chemical properties to improve downstream purification process.
• From a wholistic point of view, assess risk and error deviations from all process aspects regardless of technology and operation constrain.
• Innovate and build our knowledge base on AAV process technologies.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional laboratories and external CDMOs.
• Author & review technical documents including process descriptions, study designs, SOPs, technical position papers, & technical reports.

Interested? For this position you’ll need the following education, experience and skills:

• PhD (Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Virology, or related fields) with 0-3 year of experience in process development of large molecule or cellular therapies.
• Strong scientific understanding on fundamentals of biological entities (virus, proteins, DNA, etc) and interfacial sciences.
• Technical knowledge of chromatography and/or membrane filtration.
• Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation and method development.
• Experience with data and statistical analysis.
• Experience with programming.
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate and maintain good working relationship with internal and external customers.
• Knowledge of cGMP manufacturing guidance and experience with technical investigations and root cause analysis is preferred but not required.
• Very good command in English, both spoken and written. Additional language skills in French is highly preferred but not required.

Why you should apply

At UCB, we strive to attract passionate and outstanding talents who thrive on change and are ready to bring real value to patients. Working for us you’ll discover a place where you can grow and express your full potential. We place an emphasis on innovation, collaboration and impact. Through meaningful recognition and a motivating work atmosphere, we aim to provide an optimal experience by caring about and valuing our employees – just as we do for the patients we serve.

If you believe you are the perfect match to join us on our pioneering adventure, then we invite you to apply and tell us more about your profile and motivation.