Development Technologist or Research Technician, Rotational Program
Locus Biosciences is seeking a highly motivated and entrepreneurial applicant to join our company in a full-time, entry-level position that will rotate between our Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) and Research & Development (R&D) departments during this 2 year rotational program. This position is well suited for those looking for an entry-level position that is excited to learn all aspects of biotechnology drug development from early-stage research through drug product manufacturing. Candidates will be expected to accomplish defined work, as well as assist in approaching and solving complex scientific problems. Candidates should have demonstrated laboratory or manufacturing experience, with solid communication, technical aptitude, and problem-solving skills. Experience working in regulated, pharmaceutical/biotechnology R&D (GDP, GLP) and/or manufacturing environments (cGMP) is strongly preferred, but not required.
Why Locus?
Change the future of medicine and address a serious and unmet patient need by developing completely novel therapeutic modalities.
Fast-track your career by tackling large & meaningful projects and learning a breadth of techniques and skillsets in the wet lab and manufacturing suites
Work with a team of exceptionally talented and hardworking individuals while striving to achieve a common mission
Partner with the most highly respected pharmaceutical companies in the world
Bonus pool eligibility
Health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), and PTO
Free access to fitness center and classes
Responsibilities will include:
Designing and/or executing formulation development activities
Designing and/or executing bench-scale process development activities, including set-up and operation of development-scale bioreactors, filter trains, tangential flow filtration (TFF) equipment, and chromatography equipment
Development of analytical strategies to inform formulation and process development activities
Design and deploy automated workflows for molecular biology and microbiology assays, including liquid handling automation, next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation, and high-throughput screening of phage activity to accelerate research timelines and improve experimental reproducibility.
Support the development of data infrastructure and bioinformatics pipeline for R&D and CMC operations, including DNA sequence analysis, sequence assembly, and comparative genomic analysis.
Molecular biology and synthetic biology– Cloning, NGS library preparation, characterization of novel genetic engineering tools, and generation and analysis of novel engineered phage clones
Microbiology – Culturing both aerobic and obligate anaerobic organisms. Utilizing a range of bacterial strains to produce and characterize activity of phage
Independent management, planning, and execution of multiple projects, including reviewing, interpreting, and recording results.
Supporting tech transfer of new products and processes to ensure smooth transition from R&D to process development to GMP manufacturing
Forming strong relationships with all stakeholders, including technicians, associates, project and program managers, and scientists to enable successful tech transfer
Supporting Scientists in all aspects of pharmaceutical development
Assisting in the preparation of batch records, protocols, SOPs, deviations, technical reports, presentations, and other CMC documents to support drug development, including INDs, BLAs, and other applications
Gaining aseptic gowning and fill qualification
Performing material handling and staging
Practicing real-time documentation (such as batch records) during production run and maintain accurate records/logs according to GDP
Supporting Qualification and Validation activities
Identifying, communicating, and troubleshooting process issues
Supporting team effort in the effective and timely completion of root cause investigations and CAPA
Supporting a high-performance teamwork environment
Rotations may include a combination of any of the following functions:
Research and Development including but not limited to phage discovery, phage engineering, and strain engineering.
High Throughput Development (Automation)
Bioinformatics
Material Sciences & Technology
cGMP Manufacturing
Analytical Development
Quality Control
Clinical Lab
Quality Assurance
Project Management Office
Clinical Operations
Education:
Technical certificate or degree (e.g. BTEC Biomanufacturing), or graduation from an accredited college/university with a Bachelor’s to a Master’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biophysics, Pharmaceutical Technology or related field, with some lab experience (required)
Experience and Expertise:
Familiarity with general laboratory techniques such as pipetting, serial dilutions, aseptic technique and proper decontamination procedures
Experience in research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and/or sterile production environment
Experience executing SOPs and documenting work
Strong mechanical aptitude
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Technical writing ability
Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and collaborative environment. Openly shares knowledge/information needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem
Preferred Qualifications:
At least two years’ experience between academic or industry research
Experience in biologics (upstream, downstream, aseptic fill/finish) with working knowledge of FDA regulations and GMP systems
Experience with DNA sequence analysis, including homology searching, sequence assembly and primer design
Ability to assist in the design of experiments and interpretation of results
Motivation to learn new processes that contribute to the company's overall desire to get products into the clinic
Technical proficiency with designing and executing standard molecular biology experiments (PCR, transformation, Gibson cloning)
Experience with microbiology skills like growth curves, anaerobic microbiology, streaking and banking strains
*The level of the position will be based on the successful candidate’s qualifications.
About Locus Biosciences
Locus Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision antibacterial products to address critical unmet medical needs in treating bacterial infections and microbiome indications. The Locus platform engineers bacterial viruses called bacteriophages to specifically kill target pathogens while leaving non-target bacteria (i.e., the rest of the patient’s microbiome) unharmed and to deliver biotherapeutic payloads to the body sites where they are needed. Locus’s lead program is an engineered bacteriophage product targeting Escherichia coli bacteria in the urinary tract, currently being tested in an active Phase 2/3 clinical trial. Locus has collaborations with BARDA and CARB-X to develop engineered bacteriophage products targeting E. coli infections and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, respectively. For more information about Locus visit
SHIFT: Full-Time Days, with occasional evening and weekend work
Job Type: Full-time, onsite
Job Location: Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Direct applicants only. No agencies please.
Skills
As published by recruitee · 5 questions · 2 written answers
Basics
Full name, Email, CV, Cover letter, Phone
Short answers (1)
- LinkedIn URL (enter N/A if you do not have a LinkedIn account)
Pick from a list (2)
- Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship to work in the U.S.?
Written answers (2)
- Please read and respond to the following prompt: Locus Biosciences is on a mission to develop ground-breaking, next-generation biologic drugs that properly balance the bacteria in the body to preserve the incredible advances of modern medicine and take bold next steps toward improving human health. We’re all-in on engineering viruses called bacteriophages to alter or kill targeted bacteria to help patients’ bodies defend themselves against disease. Our patented microbiome-editing technologies, currently in clinical development, are developed by a tenacious team of scientists who are innovating at record speed. We’re undaunted by the scale of the problem and unafraid to fail and learn. We do this work because it matters for millions of patients around the world. The opportunity to change the face of medicine is here, and we’re looking for exceptional adventurers to join our quest. We’re in search of problem solvers who tackle obstacles head-on with critical thinking, grit (passion + perseverance), teamwork, and boldness. We're looking for people like us, who enjoy going to bed exhausted to wake up again in eager pursuit of groundbreaking new medicines; who are excited to improve humanity's condition and make their mark on the world; who derive immense satisfaction from doing hard things, viewing discomfort as an opportunity for growth; who enjoy a large dynamic range in life; and who are undeterred by the challenge of doing what others consider impossible. We are the Shackletons and Amundsens of the world, and we're recruiting for one of the most arduous and perilous expeditions in drug development. If you're up for the journey, tell us about a profound adversity you faced in life. Then, detail how overcoming that adversity has prepared you to work alongside a team that is determined to succeed in the face of enormous challenges and improbable odds. You've got 500 words and a busy audience. Are you ready to seize the opportunity while leaving no doubt that you have what it takes to succeed? * Please note, your response will be available to entire hiring team, not just Human Resources.
- As part of our application process, did you use any artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, to generate any content within your resume, cover letter, or responses to application questions? If yes, please briefly describe which parts of your application were aided by AI and how you utilized AI.