Scientist - Invitrogen Corp.

Position Description

Pure Science. It is the heart of our organization and the DNA of the people who make a career at Invitrogen. Each day, we put the vast potential of biology into action, devising technologies and providing services critical to life science research as well as drug discovery, development and production.

Our labs and offices are infused with entrepreneurial energy and intellectual curiosity that foster questions and answers that produce real-world results in laboratories across the globe. In fact, many of the greatest medical discoveries of the last two decades were made using Invitrogen products, including the discovery of the AIDS virus, advancements in cancer treatment, and the development of tools to assist in stem cell research.

If you too have a passion for science and the business of biotech, please consider this opportunity:

Position Objective
Responsible for initiating, directing and executing client-specific service programs and applications experiments through the research staff or individual studies. Act as the technical program manager for PD Direct cell culture media and process optimization service projects.

Essential Functions

• Independently design experimental plans, lead study execution, analyze experimental data, generate laboratory protocols and write interim and final technical reports. Design and solve problems in experimental designs.
• Apply knowledge of biochemical engineering, biochemistry, and cell biology to solve problems in the design/execution of service programs and development of new products. Critically analyze complex data, interpret and integrate experiment results with project objectives. Maintain accurate lab notebook and training file in accordance with relevant Invitrogen required standards to support patent application and defense as well as other international standards (e.g., ISO compliance, GLP/GMP requirements, etc.).
• Conduct applications experiments to demonstrate expertise in area of technical focus using new catalog and custom products.
• Custom product/process development, qualification and transfer to manufacturing.
• Support technical selling by consulting with customers in person, by phone and by e-mail and through preparation and presentation of data at scientific meetings (external and internal) and publication of results when appropriate.
• Act as the technical lead or Program Manager for a service or developmental project and interface with other departments (i.e., Marketing, Business Development, Technical Service and/or Operations) to coordinate product development and improvement. Program/project management responsibilities including tracking of program progress, resources and issues, supervision of junior staff on a project-specific basis and program team leadership
• Investigate, create and develop new methods and technologies for project advancement.
• Make contributions to scientific literature and conferences.
• Maintain high level of professional expertise through familiarity with current scientific literature, competing technologies and/or products and attendance of scientific seminars and meetings.
• Comply with all company safety regulations and procedures. Report non-compliance and may serve as team lead.

May be required to perform other related duties as required and/or assigned.

Nature and Scope
Position exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Performs duties independently with only general direction given. Job encounters recurring work situations with frequent variations from the norm, involving a high degree of complexity. Works on complex problems of moderate scope where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors. Accuracy is required in performing all functions of this position. Mistakes in work could cause substantial data errors.

Measures of Contribution/Impact
Contribution is measured through, but not limited to, successful development and execution of service programs, new custom product development, generation of new intellectual property, peer reviewed publications (especially regarding Invitrogen scientific product work) and presentations (e.g., talks and posters) at national meetings. Ability to assume a leadership role in a team/matrixed environment is essential.

Technical Excellence
Established technical expertise; serves as a resource to external and internal customers. Possesses and applies a comprehensive knowledge of a particular field of specialization to the completion of complex assignments; advances research in field of specialization.

Education
Ph.D. degree in Biochemical Engineering, Biochemistry or other related discipline is preferred. Bachelors degree is required.

Experience
Experience gained through obtaining a Ph.D. degree; Bachelors degree with 8 to 10 years of experience; or Master’s degree with 4 plus years experience. Prior industrial experience, particularly in process development is desirable.

Key knowledge/skills/abilities include:
• Small and large-scale cultivation of eukaryotic cells (mammalian cell culture experience preferred) in a variety of culture vessels and processes, including batch, fed-batch, and/or perfusion.
• Familiarity in the operation of bench-top stirred tank bioreactors, BioWAVE bioreactors and other process development laboratory equipment is desirable.
• Demonstrated competence in data analysis, research design and the evaluation of new techniques and procedures for manufacturing reagents, systems, products or technologies.
• Statistical Design of Experiment (DOE) experience.
• Media/reagent formulation experience is desirable.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to work independently.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to efficiently evaluate, prioritize and handle multiple and changing projects and priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interpret and summarize scientific results in a clear, concise, accurate manner.
• Demonstrated ability to formulate and solve problems.
• Proven ability to lead and provide work direction required.

Contacts
Frequent technical interaction both within the company at all levels, with subordinates, colleagues, members of other departments and company Directors, and with outside scientific collaborators through seminars and publications of research, and customers through site visits and scientific meetings.

Travel: up to 10%

We are proud to be an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce.

This position is eligible for relocation benefits.

How to Apply