PhD student – Understanding AAVv production with stable producer cell lines: Advancing our innovative production platform

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The Position

PhD student – Understanding AAVv production with stable producer cell lines: Advancing our innovative production platform

Are you looking for a new scientific challenge?

In Roche’s Pharmaceutical Cell & Gene Therapy organization (PTC), we are united by our vision to drive and realize cell and gene therapies by translating scientific progress into life-changing experiences for patients. Our core business is to bring game-changing viral vector based therapies from early clinical supply into the market to serve patients with an unmet clinical need to cure diseases. We are doing this by developing world-class AAV manufacturing processes using cutting-edge technology for the whole value chain. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to make extraordinary life-changing gene therapies a reality for the patients.

The position:

As a PhD Student, you will join an expert team in the area of Cell Culture Process Development for viral vector based therapies. The main objective of your research is to gain a comprehensive understanding or AAVv production and packaging with stable producer cells to identify key levers for enhancing productivity and product quality of the viral vectors. As part of our global platform development team, you will study the interplay of all upstream platform parts, including the host cell line, production process, and cell culture media. To achieve your goals, you will employ cutting-edge technologies for process development, media optimization, and cell characterization. As part of a global team, you will work closely together with colleagues from different sites of the Roche group supporting you with a broad range of expertise.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following tasks:

• You optimize an AAVv platform production process for stable producer cell lines
• You build a mechanistic understanding of the AAVv production and packaging, considering the cell line, the cell culture media and the process
• You identify determinants that contribute to limited productivity and low packaging efficiency
• You design and conduct cell culture experiments, including shake flasks, ambr15, and ambr250, to optimize process parameters and cell culture conditions
• You utilize cutting edge-technologies like transcriptomics and metabolomics for in-depth characterization
• You coordinate, present and discuss your activities and outcomes in a global team being an integral part of the global cell culture platform team between Roche, Spark and Genentech

Who you are:

• You hold a master´s degree in biotechnology, bioengineering, biochemistry, molecular biology or similar area
• You possess a robust background in mammalian cell culture techniques and experience in viral vector production is necessary for this position
• You have hands-on expertise in bioprocess optimization, including the use of shake flasks and bioreactors
• You are proficient in molecular biology methods and skilled in interpreting transcriptomics and metabolomics data
• You are characterized by your careful, independent and responsible way of working as well as your enjoyment of working in a team
• You excel at fostering collaborative and trusting relationships and enjoy working in an international environment
• You have strong IT and data analysis skills
• Your fluent English skills, written and spoken, round out your profile

We look forward to receiving your application!

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