Associate Scientist Downstream (Manufacturing Science and Technology) Harwell, South East England, England
Job description
Vaccitech plc is a fast-growing biotech company. At only six years old we already have a development portfolio of nine programmes, including a partnered product that is in commercial production and that has seen more than 3 billion doses administered worldwide and an IPO behind us. We are a publicly listed clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that spun out of the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute, one of the most prestigious vaccine research centres in the world. We discover and develop immunotherapeutic products and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmunity. Our achievements include co-inventing and jointly developing our COVID-19 vaccine candidate VTP-900, now Vaxzevria, which we assigned to Oxford University Innovation to facilitate the licensing of those rights to AstraZeneca. We run clinical studies to explore treatments for patients with HBV and HPV infections and are developing rapid and scalable manufacturing processes for our platforms.
In December 2021, Vaccitech acquired Avidea Technologies Inc. with exciting product candidates for oncology and autoimmunity based on the innovative SNAPvax platform, which has demonstrated unprecedented control over T cell induction. This gives us U.S operational presence in Maryland, complements Vaccitech's established capabilities and reinforces our position as a fast-growing global leader in immunotherapies and vaccines. Vaccitech's UK headquarters has recently moved to a state-of-the-art facility in the UK's leading science and innovation campus at Harwell. We conduct research globally and have ambitious plans in the UK and US, where we will continue to grow our teams over the coming months and years.
Main purpose of job:
As a member of the Vaccitech MSAT team, the Scientist will be expected to develop, optimize and conduct bench/pilot scale processes for Vaccitech vector purification platforms.
Work closely with team members within Vaccitech, Contract Service Providers and Contract Manufacturing Organisations to assist with the development, optimisation and characterisation of manufacturing processes.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Expectation to be present 90 % in the laboratory completing experimental work, 10 % writing quality protocol and reports
- Development, optimisation, and characterisation of down-stream processes for viral vector platform to support the manufacture of seed stocks, drug substance and drug product to support Vaccitech CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control) activities
- Process development and characterisation of clarification using depth filtration filters, tangential flow filtration using hollow fibres, and chromatography for capture and polishing steps
- Provide support to generate buffers required for downstream experiments
- Contribute to the routine running of the laboratory and maintenance of the equipment
- Write technical SOPs, protocols, reports, or batch documents as required
- Participate in team and other scientific meetings, presenting data and conclusions as required.
- Adhere to applicable policies and procedures relating to working in the laboratory
Personal Abilities and Traits:
- Be a highly organized, self-motivated team player.
- Technically competent and capable of working in a laboratory with some supervision.
- Good collaboration and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and be capable of readily adapting to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- High-level of attention to detail.
- Proven ability to work and communicate effectively as part of a team .
- Reliable and trustworthy, able to work with some supervision.
Essential Knowledge, experience, and skills:
- A BSc or higher qualification in a life science discipline.
- Minimum of 1-2 years practical laboratory experience, mostly gained within a Biotechnology/ Pharmaceutical setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of some of the following (or alternative technologies if relevant) such as to be able to perform experiments with some supervision: Depth filtration, Tangential flow filtration, chromatography.
- Ability to write and record laboratory activities clearly and accurately, familiar with Excel.
- Ability to analyze and write factual, accurate and concise reports.
Desired skills:
- Some experience in handling genetically modified organisms e.g. viral vectors e.g. Adenovirus, Modified Vaccinia Ankara.
- Some knowledge and understanding of purification techniques
What we can offer you
Vaccitech is a great place to work. We encourage an entirely flat structure with an open-door policy to the senior leadership team. Our employees agree the culture and working environment is one of the best things about our business. As part of a small high growth business you will get the opportunity to be involved in many different areas and our rapid growth trajectory means you will have the opportunity to grow with us. We offer stock options to all employees, 25 days annual holidays increasing with length of service, an AXA Healthcare plan, Life Insurance and up to 6% pension contributions matched by the company.
Notice to recruiters
Vaccitech's internal Talent Acquisition leads recruitment and employment for Vaccitech. Unsolicited resumes sent to Vaccitech from recruiters do not constitute any type of relationship between the recruiter and Vaccitech and do not obligate Vaccitech to pay fees should we hire from those resumes. Vaccitech operate a preferred list of recruitment suppliers, any and all equiries about joining us as a supplier should be directed to Vaccitech's TA Team. We ask that external recruiters and/ or agencies not contact or present candidates directly to our hiring manager or employees.
