Sr. Research Specialist - Cell Culture

When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs.  With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.

Job Title

Sr. Research Specialist - Cell Culture

Location(s)

Merck (San Diego) - Customer Site CA

Key Responsibilities:

• This position will be based on site at the customer location in San Diego, California.
• Support multiple ongoing large-scale cell-based projects that are critical to the success and future of the department.  
• Lab work will include cell culturing, cell proliferation, protein isolation, and viral transduction.
• Operate and maintain laboratory instrumentation and robotics, including liquid sample handling platforms.
• Preparation of cell pellets for histological processing. 
• Provide vials of tested, frozen cell lines to scientists.
• Isolate and cryopreserve primary PBMCs and further cell subsets from both whole blood and leukopaks.
• Isolate a variety of cell types from fresh blood daily in a timely manner.
• Isolate serum from whole blood.
• Maintain sterile technique while culturing isolated primary cells.
• Perform established flow cytometry QC protocols on a routine basis and analyze results.
• Quantification of biomarkers by immunoassay in conditioned media and patient biospecimens  
• Generate and analyze data with the highest Data Integrity standards to include identifying and reporting unusual results/outcomes.
• Operate and maintain laboratory instrumentation including Mycoplasma onsite testing & clean-up as warranted.
• Interact with senior staff members as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with all R&D data integrity practices, ethics codes, standards and training, and safety training and practice
• Maintain training and compliance in areas of health and safety, security, environmental and operational aspects of daily activities in the working environment.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job at any time

Critical Skills:

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Technical problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Strong customer service skills complemented by an ability to listen to and interpret requests.
• Ability to read and interpret chemical labeling and hazardous signage.

Basic Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology with 3+ year experience in cell culture, general lab instrumentation, and cell-based assays in a laboratory environment required OR
• Associate degree in Biology with 5+ years' experience in cell culture, general lab instrumentation, and cell-based assays in a laboratory environment required OR
• High School Degree or equivalent with 10+ years' experience in cell culture, general lab instrumentation, and cell-based assays in a laboratory environment required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Biology, Biotechnology or Biomedical sciences fields with laboratory research experience in a laboratory environment.
• Previous experience in biotech and/or pharmaceutical drug discovery. 
• Experience with the any/all of the following: Incucyte, Li-Cor, BacMam, Lentivirus
• Experience with Flow Cytometry, Cell Culture, cell proliferation, DNA/RNA Isolation, Transduction and Transfection

Working Environment: