Job Title: Research Associate
Date: January 8, 2025
FLSA Status: Full-Time/Exempt
Manager: Associate Director, Lab Automation
Department: Research
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Job Code: BIO-25-002
BlueSphere is a Pittsburgh-based immunotherapy company developing novel T-cell therapies to treat individuals diagnosed with liquid and solid tumors. The established proprietary platform technologies in Neoantigen and tumor-specific TCR discoveries have provided a rich foundation for various TCR-T cell therapy pipelines and cancer vaccines to address unmet medical needs in both blood and solid tumors.
Purpose
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to join BlueSphere Bio’s T-cell Receptor (TCR) Discovery team. The incumbent will use state-of-the-art instrumentation and techniques to identify TCRs that recognize minor histocompatibility antigens, tumor-associated antigens, and neoantigens. Additionally, she/he will work with a group of individuals to develop a high-throughput platform that is able to isolate and identify rare antigen-specific T-cells from healthy and patient donor samples. These positions require excellent communication skills and working effectively in a goal-focused team environment. Job level and responsibilities will be based on qualifications and experience. Candidates interested in expanding their knowledge and gaining experience in cell-based (TCR-T) cancer therapies and drug discovery are highly encouraged to apply.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate sample and laboratory records. Document activities in an electronic notebook system.
- Support TCR discovery platform operations by assisting in developing and implementing novel strategies to identify antigen-specific TCRs
- Conducting PCR, cloning, and colony screening assays.
- Conducting bacterial transformation, propagation, and purification of plasmid DNA
- Conducting lentivirus production, purification, and banking
- Development and implementation of co-culture assays to identify novel TCRs
- Sterile culture techniques and cell sorting (including at the single cell level) to maintain and establish new cell lines for the functional characterization of TCRs
- Characterize cells using multiparameter flow cytometry and subsequent data analysis.
- Organize and conduct assigned studies independently. Notably, the incumbent must be capable of troubleshooting various aspects of assay implementation.
- Work closely with the development team to advance the technology platform and TCR candidates
- Assist in developing data packages and reports for internal corporate activities and regulatory submissions.
- Present regularly at team meetings.
- Other duties as assigned.
We are seeking a candidate for the following functional roles:
NGS Library Production
- Develop and optimize NGS library preparation workflow by utilizing nucleic acid technologies (PCR, fragmentation, nucleic acid cleanup)
- Establish protocols and SOP for the above techniques
Molecular Biology and Lentivirus Production
- Develop and optimize LVV construction workflow utilizing molecular biology techniques (cloning, plasmid purification)
- Responsible for generation of high-titer recombinant lentiviruses, quality control of the lentiviral preparations, and generation of associated reagents.
- Establish protocols and SOP for the above molecular biology techniques
In-vitro Pharmacology:
- T cell immunology includes isolation, modification, expansion, and analysis of primary T cell populations.
- Establish protocols and SOP for T-cell characterization and various assays of T-cell function.
Qualifications and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s (BS) degree in Immunology, Oncology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biological Sciences or equivalent experience required with >=2 years of working experience required.
- Familiarity with 10x genomics scRNA library preparation workflow is preferred.
- Mammalian Cell Culture: immortalized and primary adherent and non-adherent cells
- T cell biology: Isolation and in vitro maintenance of PBMC, including CD4+ and CD8+ primary T cells. T cell activation, gene modification, and expansion for downstream functional assays, including TCR-dextramer binding, activation assays (proliferation, cell-based killing assays, analysis of cytokine secretion, etc.)
- Flow Cytometry: Strong background in multi-color flow cytometry [4 channel flow cytometry analysis preferred] of primary human immune cells and cell lines
- Molecular Cloning: vector design, restriction enzyme analysis of expression vectors, restriction independent cloning [In-Fusion and/or Gibson]
- Lentiviral technology: Understanding of LV packaging systems and LV expression vector components; experience in LV vector isolation and generation of recombinant lentivirus; lentiviral applications: transduction of immortalized and primary cells focusing on primary human PBMC and T cells
- DNA/RNA isolation and nucleic acid technologies: PCR, RT-PCR, and Q-RTPCR; familiarity with NGS and RNA-Seq, genomic DNA PCR, and Sanger sequencing; familiarity with 10x genomics scRNA seq workflow; isolation of vector DNA (mini, midi, maxi, and mega preps), agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA/RNA fragment isolation from agarose gel
- Bacterial Culture: maintenance of bacterial cells, the transformation of the competent bacteria, isolation of vector DNA (mini, midi, maxi, and mega preps)
- Software: flow cytometry software, data analysis software (GraphPad Prism, Excel, etc.), Microsoft Office suite
- Organizational skills: experience in working in a multi-disciplinary team environment; resource management; ability to manage one’s time within individual, departmental, and corporate goals and timelines.
Physical and Mental Requirements
- You will be expected to frequently (21% to 50% of the time):
- Lift objects from one level to another (30 lbs. or less)
- Carry objects (30 lbs. or less)
- Walk around the facility on foot
- Stand on your feet
- Ambulatory travel up to 25%
- You will be expected to constantly (at least 51% of the time):
- Sit in a normal seated position
BlueSphere Bio is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and offers employment opportunities to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability (except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement), veteran status, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, HIV-positive status, possession of the sickle cell trait, genetic characteristics, political views, and any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.
