Scientist, Cell Line Engineering

VitroLabs, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Milpitas California, is a biotech company developing a scalable tissue engineering platform for the efficient and environmentally friendly production of leather from only a few cells.  Combining advanced tissue engineering processes with proprietary advances to achieve commercial scale, VitroLabs is on a mission to produce cell cultivated leather that achieves the look, feel and performance of traditional leather without compromise. The composition of the material achieves the complexity of traditional hides without the need to go to animals as an ongoing source of hides. The process is more environmentally sustainable and favorable for animal welfare than that which is used to produce traditional leather.

About the role:

Reporting to the Director of Cell Biology, the Scientist - Cell Line Engineering will use gene engineering and/or synthetic biology to develop novel mammalian cell lines that will help facilitate more efficient and cost-effective tissue formation. Your work will impact various teams within Research & Product Development to support advancements in bioprocessing, scaffolding, and large-scale tissue formation.

About You:

You are an experienced cell biologist who enjoys collaborating across disciplines in order to solve complex problems. You effectively share ideas, data, and bottle-necks to technical and non-technical audiences alike. You have knowledge or interest in cellular agriculture and are excited to bring your experience in cell line development to this nascent industry. You are excited to join a startup team!

Responsibilities:

• Analyze current cell lines to understand limitations or areas of improvement
• Develop an immortalized cell line(s), using genome and cell engineering techniques, that results in a high-quality final product
• Establish workflow and process(es) for screening, isolation, and validation in cell line development
• Establish process for cell line immortalization of other species for future product diversification
• Perform vector construction and design (genome analysis tools focused in cell immortalization) and hands-on cell line transfection (utilizing various transgene delivery systems), primary cell culture and generation, and clonal selection/single colony isolation
• Conduct in-depth analysis of experimental outcomes, and understand the rationale behind the immediate plans for priority work
• Assess current equipment and resources for cell line experiments and determine future needs
• Participate in planning and execution for next tier priorities
• Collaborate with various teams across the Research & Product Development department to transfer and develop downstream processes for newly developed cell lines
• Mentor junior members with technical skills, presentations, and experimental design

Qualifications & Skills:

• Strong experience, 3 or more years*, with in vitro adherent and suspension mammalian aseptic cell culture techniques and characterization
• Hands-on experience with DNA construct/vector/plasmid design and cell line transfection, utilizing various transgene delivery systems and genome analysis tools and platforms
• Strong experience in cell line development/molecular cloning: clonal selection, single colony isolation and validation
• Hands-on experience with molecular cloning and exogenous gene expression techniques
• Experience  analyzing experimental outcomes

*At VitroLabs, we understand that those who are courageous enough to make the bold moves and run with the "crazy" ideas are the folks who drive innovation and enable us to accomplish our mission. There is no specific pathway that makes you a fit for this role, but rather your resilience, tenacity, and constant curiosity.

If you want to collaborate with us and know you can help make a product that will change the planet for the better, we want to hear from you.

Compensation:

• $114,000-155,000 annually

Benefits

• 90-100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental care
• Flexible Spending Account/ Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Basic Life insurance & Long Term Disability insurance
• Commuter benefits
• 401K (Employer matching)

Perks

• Onsite employer sponsored lunches (3 days each week)
• Fully stocked kitchen (snacks responsibly sourced)
• Team happy hours and regularly scheduled table tennis, foosball, and cornhole matches

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the functions, responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position, and VitroLabs Inc retains the discretion to modify functions, responsibilities, duties and skills at any time, including modifying the time devoted to such activities, deleting activities and assigning other activities.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

VitroLabs Inc is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to race, color, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.