Mammalian Engineer 2, LNP

The Mammalian Team focuses on mammalian cell, RNA, viral vector engineering and non-viral delivery approaches aiming to provide more scalable and systematic approaches to the discovery and optimization of vectors, receptors, and mammalian cells. The team is involved in various projects, including improving AAV manufacturing, synthetic enhancer discovery, CAR-T cell screening, AAV capsid engineering, LNP engineering. 

We are seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking Research Associate to join the Non-Viral Delivery team at Ginkgo. The successful candidate will support activities associated with formulation and characterization of LNPs and other non-viral delivery vehicles loaded with complex nucleic acid cargos. This individual will develop, manufacture, and characterize high-quality materials for key in vitro and in vivo studies in support of a variety of therapeutic applications. This individual will also partner with Automation and Data Science teams to develop high-throughput laboratory protocols and solutions for data capture. Strong technical, organizational, and communication skills are essential. The successful applicant will be a team player able to function in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:

• Execute protocols for preparation and characterization of LNPs and other non-viral delivery vehicles loaded with complex nucleic acid cargos for in vitro and in vivo studies.
• Develop and optimize formulation compositions and processes to achieve efficient delivery to a variety of cell and tissue types.
• Design and conduct experiments to elucidate formulation structure-activity relationships and maximize efficacy around physicochemical properties, in vitro transfection, and in vivo administration.
• Collaborate across the Ginkgo ecosystem to deploy high-throughput assays and advanced characterization techniques to assess formulation safety, stability, structure, and function.
• Interface with the Automation and Data Science teams to establish and optimize efficient workflows for laboratory SOPs and data capture.
• Coordinate sample preparation and shipment with internal and external collaborators.
• Maintain an accurate and detailed laboratory notebook as well as record of experiments.
• Aid in interpretation and communication of results and actively participate in scientific discussions and group meetings.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology or a related field with 2+ years industry experience, or M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology or a related field field with 1+ years industry experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with design, synthesis, and characterization of nanoparticle formulations in an industry environment is required.
• Working knowledge of current methods for non-viral delivery of nucleic acids (mRNA, RNAi, etc.) including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), liposomes, and/or polymeric nanoparticles.
• Familiarity with the theory and practice of controlled mixing, buffer preparation and exchange (including tangential flow filtration), and sterile filtration and process development of LNPs.
• Proficiency in formulation analytics (DLS, zeta potential, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry, HPLC, etc.).
• Prior experience with DoE and statistical software such as JMP is preferred.
• Outstanding intrapersonal skills and established cross-functional working habits.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, self-starter who takes initiative to seek improvements.

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