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Research Associate II / Senior Research Associate - Antibody Purification Process Development (South San Francisco, CA)

USA - South San Francisco, CA

Research Associate II / Senior Research Associate - Antibody Purification Process Development (South San Francisco, CA)

Job Description

Twist is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate II or Senior Research Associate to support and improve our antibody purification and downstream development platform. This role is highly hands-on and focused on the execution, optimization, and standardization of antibody purification workflows across multiple antibody formats.

You will work closely with expression, analytics, and automation teams to ensure robust, scalable, and reproducible purification processes that support discovery and other platform development efforts. The ideal candidate enjoys methodical experimentation, understands various process tradeoffs, and takes pride in producing high-quality results efficiently and reproducibly.

Job title and compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to the candidate's years of experience, individual skills, knowledge, and abilities.

Key Responsibilities

  • Execute and optimize small- and medium-scale antibody purification workflows across multiple formats, including IgGs, Fc variants, and multi-specific antibodies
  • Perform capture (e.g. Protein A), polishing steps (SEC, IEX, HIC as appropriate), and buffer exchange using spin columns, gravity columns, and chromatography systems
  • Support the development, refinement, and standardization of downstream purification SOPs for platform use
  • Evaluate purification performance metrics, including yield, purity, recovery, aggregation, assembly, and throughput
  • Troubleshoot common downstream challenges such as low recovery, aggregation, proteolysis, mis-assembly, and/or host-cell protein carryover
  • Collaborate with upstream expression and analytics teams to close the loop between expression output and purification performance
  • Develop and support scale-down models that inform larger-scale purification strategies
  • Contribute to high-throughput or semi-automated purification workflows, including plate-based or parallelized formats
  • Maintain detailed experimental records and communicate results clearly to cross-functional partners
  • Manage time and experiments effectively to support multiple concurrent projects
  • Contribute to a collaborative, proactive, and execution-focused lab culture
  • Move projects forward efficiently / manage time and resources effectively / prioritize tasks in accordance with the company’s goals
  • Document and communicate results clearly and succinctly
  • Be helpful / collaborative / proactive
  • Stay up to date with new developments, companies, and technologies

What You’ll Bring to the Team

  • Strong hands-on experience in antibody purification, including:
    • Protein A (and similar) capture and elution optimization
    • Polishing strategies to reduce aggregates and impurities
    • Buffer exchange and formulation considerations
  • Practical experience purifying antibodies from mammalian expression systems (CHO and HEK preferred)
  • Understanding of how antibody sequence, format, and expression conditions impact downstream behavior (e.g. yield, aggregation, stickiness, recovery)
  • Experience working with multiple antibody formats, including:
    • Standard IgGs
    • Fc-engineered variants
    • Bispecific or multi-chain antibodies
  • Hands-on experience with antibody quality and purity assessment methods, including:
    • SEC-HPLC or aSEC
    • CE-SDS or SDS-PAGE
    • Concentration determination (UV, BCA, etc.)
  • Experience with antibody characterization methods (e.g. BLI, SPR, DSF, DLS)
  • Experience with chromatography systems (ÄKTA or similar)
  • Ability to follow, improve, and help standardize workflows—not just execute protocols blindly
  • Strong attention to experimental detail, reproducibility, and data quality
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced, multi-project environment
  • Ability to follow, improve, and help standardize workflows—not just execute protocols blindly
  • Familiarity with automation or liquid-handling systems is a plus
  • Experience with high-throughput or semi-automated workflows for expression, purification, and screening is a plus
  • Familiarity with Python or equivalent programming languages is a plus

 Qualifications

  • BS. or M.S. in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineerings, or related fields.
    • Research Associate II
      Requires a BS and 2 + years of professional experience or a Master's degree and 0-2 years of work experience
    • Sr Research Associate
      Requires a BS and 5 + years of professional experience or a Master's degree and 3+ years of work experience

About Twist Bioscience

Twist Bioscience synthesizes genes from scratch, known as “writing” DNA. Just as children learn to both read and write, the next phase of development for the genomics revolution is the ability to write DNA.

At Twist Bioscience, we work in service of people who are changing the world for the better. In fields such as health care, agriculture, industrial chemicals and data storage, our unique silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform provides precision at a scale that is otherwise unavailable to our customers.

Twist Bioscience Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Twist Bioscience Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic characteristics, or any other category protected by law.

The base cash compensation for this California-based role is below. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package. Final compensation amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate skill, experience, expertise, and location and may vary from the amount listed above. Compensation may be different in other locations.

San Francisco Bay Area Pay Range

$83,423 - $134,800 USD

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