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Senior Research Associate

Seattle, Washington, United States
Using living cells to treat – and sometimes even cure – cancer is one of the most dramatic advances in modern medicine. Patients with hematologic malignancies have been successfully treated with cell therapies. However, these profound results have not yet been achieved in patients with solid tumors, representing approximately 90% of all cancers. And for patients with hematologic malignancies, there is a need for next-generation cell therapies that can deliver increased response rates and longer duration of response.  We are a clinical-stage company advancing a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies for patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. Lyell’s product candidates are enhanced with novel technology designed to generate T cells that resist exhaustion and have qualities of durable stemness in order to drive durable tumor cytotoxicity and achieve consistent and long-lasting clinical response. We were founded by cell therapy pioneers whose decades of research elevated the broader understanding of T-cell biology and its interaction with cancer. In our quest to advance next-generation CAR T-cell therapies, we have built a fully integrated company capable of discovering new technologies, translating science into therapies, manufacturing cell therapy products, and clinically evaluating them in patients. Our culture is based on Science, Respect, Collaboration, and Courage and reflects who we are, the environment we create, and our mission's urgency.
 
The individual in this role will be responsible for the following:
 
KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

● Execute experiments to optimize process and product quality parameters, enhance cell therapy engineering and manufacturing capacity, apply Quality by Design (QbD) principles and Design of Experiment (DoE) methodologies, where appropriate
● Support cross-functional collaborations/projects with research, analytical and manufacturing stakeholders
● Collaborate with internal and external partners to evaluate new process technologies to develop next generation processes
● Work effectively in a team environment as well as contributing individually to meet project timelines and deliverables
● Support authorship of technical reports, regulatory documents and summaries of experiments and investigations
● Participate in authorship and review of batch records and SOPs
● Assist in the execution of comparability packages supporting the implementation of process changes
 
PREFERRED EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE:

● BSc in Biology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or related field with a minimum of 7 years’ experience within the area of focus; or
● MSc in Biology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering or related field with a minimum of 5 years’ experience within the area of focus
● Demonstrated experience with scale-up and optimization of bioreactors for cell-based therapies
● Proven experience in GMP manufacturing setting, technology transfer (e.g., from academic institutions or to a third-party contract manufacturing organization (CMO)) and implementation of new technologies in a regulated environment (e.g., GMP, GLP, GxP)
● Experience with the assessment of new technologies, preferably in a cross-functional setting where impact of new technologies is evaluated across research, development and commercial organizations
● Demonstrated cell therapy experience
● Experience with scale-down model implementation and process characterization
 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

● Understands the theoretical basis and experimental objectives and how they fit into the overall project and broader company goals; can give input based on literature knowledge to drive the direction of the project
● Highly proficient in using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data analysis software packages (Prism, Flow Jo, Spotfire, Geneious, etc) 
● Effectively communicate, collaborate and discuss results with other scientists on the team
● Ability to work efficiently, prioritize workflow, meet deadlines and balance competing priorities
● Excellent analytical skills and scientific/technical expertise
● Strong ability to work in a matrixed environment
 
Lyell offers its employees a range of compensation and benefits. To assist you with your decision to apply for this role, the following decision to apply for this role, the following information and links to our site highlight our competitive market position and support to our employees and their dependents.
 
The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $125,000, annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual bonus. The salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on Lyell’s compensation practices and an applicant’s qualifications and experience. Employees are also eligible to participate in Lyell’s Equity Incentive Plan.
 
Our Employee Benefits program is extensive and includes subsidized medical, dental and vision plans from your first day of employment, FSA, Company provided Life and AD&D Insurance as well as STD and LTD Insurance, ESPP, a 401(k) Plan with Company match, mass transit commuter benefits, cell phone reimbursement and a range of supplemental benefits that you may choose to elect. Our paid time-off benefits currently include 18 days’ vacation, 9 day’s sick leave, 8 observed holidays as well as a floating holiday. We also have a summer and a winter office shutdown. 
 
At Lyell, we believe that highest performing teams include people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences who respectfully challenge each other. We are committed to building an open, diverse and inclusive culture for all employees. Lyell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state and local laws.
 
We’ve learned from experience that some of the best people don’t always match our requirements perfectly - if you’re interested and think you could fit, please don’t hesitate to apply.

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