Scientist, Process Development - Upstream

Company Overview:

Forge Biologics is a hybrid gene therapy contract manufacturing and therapeutics development company.  Forge’s mission is to enable access to life changing gene therapies and help bring them from idea into reality.  Forge has a 200,000 ft2 facility in Columbus, Ohio, “The Hearth,” to serve as their headquarters.  The Hearth is the home of a custom-designed cGMP facility dedicated to viral vector manufacturing and will host end-to-end manufacturing services to accelerate gene therapy programs from preclinical through clinical and commercial stage manufacturing.  By taking a patients-first approach, Forge aims to accelerate the timelines of these transformative medicines for those who need them the most. 

Summary:

We are currently seeking a Scientist, Process Development - Upstream to join the Forge Biologics team. This is an exciting opportunity to provide active leadership and execution of the laboratory experiments and protocols for upstream process development efforts. The candidate will execute process development protocols/studies to optimize procedures for unique viral vector platform process and to assist in the transfer of client programs. The ideal candidate will be skilled in technical problem-solving and laboratory techniques to support our growth in the Gene Therapy sector.

This position reports to our Scientist II, Process Development and is responsible for planning and conducting experimental approaches for optimized upstream production of recombinant viral vectors. The Scientist will be directly involved in the development of protocols for maintenance, transfection, and infection of mammalian and insect cell lines in shake flasks and single-use bioreactors. Work activities will also include authoring and reviewing research studies, compiling experimental data, and contributing to protocols and study reports and/or publications with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain cell growth, transfection, and infection of mammalian and insect cells for viral vector manufacturing using shake flasks and single-use bioreactors
• Assist in the downstream purification technologies related to recombinant viral vector purification using chromatography (affinity and ion-exchange) and filtration processes including microfiltration, depth filtration, tangential flow filtration, and sterile filtration
• Compile experimental data with minimal oversight and contribute results for publications or reports
• Support internal process transfer activities from Process Development to GMP
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert for single-use bioreactors and methods

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years’ relevant experience; or Master’s degree with 2+ years’ direct experience, or Ph.D. in biological sciences and relevant experience
• Technical proficiency required for aspects of cell line growth and production of biological product
• Broad understanding of cell culture techniques is required; experience with bioreactors is highly preferred
• Working knowledge of downstream purification techniques
• Experience with production of biologics and performing bioassays is preferred
• Working knowledge of cGMP requirements is preferred but not required
• In our commitment to safety of our employees and customers a COVID vaccination is required