Senior Associate Scientist, Virus Production Process Development - Bioreactors

ROLE SUMMARY

You will join the Early Bioprocess Development (EBPD) effort to optimize and scale up virus production from mammalian cells to support vaccine development and clinical testing. Your primary responsibility is to produce a variety of viruses including BSL-3 level with decent titer and consistency at large scale using different vessels and technology. Your work will emphasize on production runs for different viruses with quality and lightning speed to meet timelines for different vaccine projects; purify, aliquot and curate viruses for clinical testing; optimize large scale virus production runs in bioreactors; troubleshooting when unexpected results occur, collaborate with analytical team to generate QC report, keep batch record and QC documentation for different virus batches.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Join a team of scientists to produce different types of viruses with high titer and consistency at large scale using different host cells and vessels such as disposable bioreactors, wavebags, iCellis, CelCradle, cell factory, etc. to support viral vaccine development and clinical testing
• Optimize cell culture and virus production using automatic bioreactors such as AMBR250 with DOE principle which focuses on characterization, scale-up, and demonstration of process robustness
• Produce viruses in both BSL-2 and BSL-3 level using either suspension cells or adherent cells
• Purify, aliquot and curate viruses using different technologies for clinical testing
• Generate and keep track of batch records for virus production runs
• Keep track of virus QC reports, seed, passage history, sequence variation and other critical information
• Maintain host cell culture and virus seed for different virus production runs
• Collaborate with colleagues within EBPD including Upstream process development, Purification, Analytical, and Formulation Development groups
• Evaluation and implementation of new technologies to improve virus production
• Perform timely notebook entries and review for completed experiments.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must Have

• MS degree in Virology, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Immunology, Cell Biology, or other related discipline with some related virus production experience, BS degree with a minimum of 3 years related virus production experience in academia, a biotech and/or a pharmaceutical environment

• Hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture using different vessels such as bioreactors, wavebags, iCellis etc.

• Good sterility skills

• Eager and fast learner

Nice to Have

• Experience in both suspension and adherent cell culture for virus production

• Experience working with different types and strains of viruses

• Experience to design experiments to optimize mammalian cell culture and virus production in bioreactors based on DOE principle

• Experience with disposable bioreactor/AMBR/Perfusion/iCELLis/continuous processing is a plus

• Experience in virus purification and analytics such as UF/TFF, ultracentrifugation, chromatography, HA assay, plaque assay, TCID/50, FFA, qPCR, flowvirometry, etc.

• BSL-3 lab experience and related regulatory knowledge such as GMP manufacturing considerations are preferred

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The ability to make aseptic transfers and perform the relevant laboratory functions.

Mental requirements are a detailed understanding of the scientific subject matter, an ability to make scientific judgments and an ability to perform complex data analysis.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

Works irregular hours (weekends and outside of 9-5 format) as experiments warrant

Relocation support available
Work Location Assignment: On Premise

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment.  As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.

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EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status.  Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA.  Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.

Research and Development