Associate Scientist II, Analytical Development

Umoja Biopharma is an industry-leading biotech with locations in Seattle, WA and Louisville, CO, focused on transforming the treatment of cancer with a novel integrated immunotherapy platform. Our vision is to develop off-the-shelf therapies capable of treating any tumor, any time. We are a diverse and growing team working in brand-new facilities in downtown Seattle, Washington and Louisville, Colorado, and we are looking for innovative thinkers who are excited by groundbreaking science and technology, and passionate about squaring up to the challenges inherent to cutting-edge drug development.

We are committed to our core values and principles that support our overall mission and strongly invite applications from enthusiastic individuals who share our commitment and help position Umoja to deliver on our goals. We at Umoja believe in the importance of stories; we are looking for great people to join our team to help us create more stories for ourselves, for you, and most importantly for patients and their families.

Umoja Biopharma - Your Body. Your Hope. Your Cure.

POSITION SUMMARY

Umoja's Analytical Development organization is seeking a driven Associate Scientist II for the Process Analytics department to deliver routine UPLC analytical methods. This person will transfer or develop separation methods to quantify residual process reagents in lentiviral vector (Vivo Vec) Drug Product and in-process samples. In addition, new method development utilizing separation techniques to enable product quality understanding is required. Early phase validation and transfer of these methods to Quality Control is critical to enable release testing of GMP lots.

The ideal candidate is experienced in chromatography systems and multiple detection methods. The successful candidate will be independent and will be responsible for meeting timelines. This role will also require attention to detail and proper documentation of execution of experiments in an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN), as well as contributing to report writing. This position works closely with other functions to aid in development and successful transfer of qualified methods to QC Analytical.

This role is fully onsite 5 days/week and almost entirely lab based at our Louisville, CO location.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES
Specific Responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute UPLC methods to quantify process reagents to demonstrate effective clearance
• Collaborate with AD and QC team members on various stages of analytical method lifecycle (development/qualification/transfer)
• Collaborate with systems engineer to create sample submission and result reporting workflow to support ongoing testing
• Maintain clear records of experimental work using an electronic notebook system that adheres to company guidelines.
• Manage and prioritize sample submissions for respective method(s) and report data in timely manner
• Prepare technical data reports and presentations
• Contribute to other analytical method(s) development and testing as necessary
• Exemplify the company core values and adhere to company policies to ensure safety and quality of gene therapy products and facility.

The successful candidate will have:

• S. in Biology, Biochemistry, or related discipline with a minimum of 7+ years of experience, equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Expertise with UPLC systems, Thermo (Chromeleon) preferred
• Excellent communication skills with the proven ability to build open and collaborative relationships and successfully work as a member of a multidisciplinary team

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise with nano and UPLC
• Experience with UV/VIS, Fluorescence, CAD, quadrupole MS, ICP-MS detection
• Experience with viral vectors (e.g., AAV, LVV) and/or additional analytical methods (dPCR, qPCR, ELISA, etc.) a plus
• Self-motivated and organized
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, meet deadlines, and prioritize work on multiple projects

Physical Requirements

• 100% compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements in laboratory environments, including gloves, protective clothing, and eye safety glasses.
• Perform physical tasks required for the role, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, sitting, working your hands in a biosafety cabinet, and occasionally moving materials up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work onsite 5 days/week at our Louisville, CO location.

Salary Range: $108,600 - $134,200

Benefits Offerings

Umoja Biopharma offers its employees competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans. Additionally, we offer Umojians access to a 401k plan through Fidelity, with a 100% match up to their first 4% deferral. Umoja also provides a generous Paid Time Off policy, employee commuter benefits, and cell phone stipend. For a full breakdown of our benefits offerings, please see the Benefits section of our website.