Senior Research Associate

Company Summary: Tessera Therapeutics is pioneering Gene Writing- a new biotechnology designed to offer scientists and clinicians the ability to write small and large therapeutic messages into the genome, thereby curing diseases at their source. Gene Writing holds the potential to become a new category in genetic medicine, building upon recent breakthroughs in gene therapy and gene editing while eliminating important limitations in their reach, utilization, and efficacy. Tessera Therapeutics was founded by Flagship Pioneering, a life sciences innovation enterprise that conceives, resources, and develops first-in-category companies to transform human health and sustainability. Position Summary: We are looking for a Senior Research Associate to join the Cell Therapy Analytics Team to advance early-stage cell-based unit operations for cell therapy applications using Tessera's novel Gene Writing and Gene Rewriting technology. You will work collaboratively across multiple teams within Tessera to produce and characterize primary Immuno-oncology cell banks. Working with the Immuno-Oncology Process Sciences Analytical team, you will leverage your experience in primary T-cell and PBMC cultures to characterize cell banks used across research and development to inform cell-based Immuno-oncology efforts with Tessera's platform Gene Writing technology. You will be part of a team that characterizes and reports how gene writing impacts various immune, and/or hematopoietic cell subsets. You will work closely with the IO process team to help execute analytics to inform scale-down and scale-up models to generate these cell therapies with the goal to bring these therapies to clinic. Key Responsibilities: The candidate will support development and production of hematopoietic primary cell banks for use in Cell Therapy, Gene Writing platforms. Support characterization assays to inform the biology and process understanding of Gene Writing. Work collaboratively with process and analytics teams to execute developed analytics to inform in-process phenotypic and functional characterization of gene edited cells Independently perform and screen new assays for analytical method selection Assist in interpretation and troubleshooting of analytical assays in various platforms including, flow cytometry, ELISA/MSD, qPCR and ddPCR. Collect and interpret data, prepare experimental reports, and present findings to the IO Process team. Support the development of protocols, test methods, and analytical sampling plans. Basic Qualifications: BS with 5+/MS with 3+ years of experience in Immunology, Immuno-oncology, cell and gene therapy or related field is required . Experience with research and/or manufacturing scale cell and tissue culture techniques with primary cells or established cell lines is required. Excellent technical, written, multi-tasking, and oral communication skills. Has a passion for collaboration and is a dynamic individual hungry to join a thriving, early-stage biotech environment. Preferred Qualifications: Experience with cell therapy based unit operations, such as CliniMACS, CliniMACS Prodigy, Rotea, Cue, etc. Experience developing cell based, functional potency assays is a plus. Knowledge and experience with non-viral gene delivery and gene editing. Experience with flow cytometry is preferred. Experience in cell assay development and characterization is a plus. Experience with ELISA/MSD, qPCR, ddPCR, Incucyte, luciferase-based plate readouts and/or high speed cell sorting is a plus. More about Tessera Therapeutics: Tessera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, marital status, genetics, protected veteran status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic identified by federal, state, or local laws where we operate. Tessera provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. To begin an interactive dialogue with Tessera regarding a reasonable accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied, please contact the recruiter or Tessera offers a competitive package of base and incentive compensation as well as a comprehensive benefits program designed to support the health, wellness and financial security of our employees and their families. Benefits currently include group medical, vision and dental coverage, group life and disability insurance, 401(k) with company contribution, tuition reimbursement, and much more. Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Tessera Therapeutics does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Tessera Therapeutics or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Tessera Therapeutics' internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Tessera Therapeutics, and Tessera Therapeutics will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.