Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Head of Assay Development to lead our efforts in creating and optimizing protein and cell-based assays for high-throughput screening. This role is critical in advancing our technology platforms, where you will be directly involved in lab work while also providing strategic leadership. The ideal candidate will possess a deep knowledge of assays and statistical methods used in high-throughput screening, with a PhD and over 5 years of relevant experience in the biotech industry.
Responsibilities
Hands-on Assay Development: Take an active role in the lab, designing, developing, and validating high-throughput protein and cell-based assays. You will lead by example, applying your technical expertise to ensure the highest standards of assay performance.
Interface Between Screening Scales: Deploy your knowledge of microbial physiology, media formulations, and interactions with cell growth and production as well as detection assays to ensure that both assay and culture conditions scale from our HyTS microfluidics platform through microtiter plate assays and into bioreactors.
Statistics of High-throughput Screening: Utilize advanced screening statistics to measure and improve assay quality, enrichment models, and promotion criteria.
Strategic Leadership: Provide strategic direction for assay development projects, aligning them with company goals and ensuring timely and successful execution. Balance your time between lab work, data analysis, and strategic planning.
Lab-based Innovation & Problem Solving: Apply creativity and scientific expertise directly in the lab to overcome technical challenges and optimize assay performance. Your hands-on involvement and deep understanding of statistical methods will be key to generating high-quality, reproducible data.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with research, engineering, and data science teams to integrate assay development efforts with broader company objectives, bringing your statistical insights and lab experience to inform collaborative projects.
Mentorship & Team Building: Mentor and guide junior scientists and research associates, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. Lead by example with your hands-on approach to inspire your team.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Lead a data-centric approach to assay development, ensuring that all findings are well-documented, analyzed, and presented to stakeholders. Your expertise in statistical analysis will drive critical decisions throughout the development process.
Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvements and technology enhancements, both in the lab and in strategic planning, that can increase efficiency and effectiveness in assay development.
Ownership & Accountability: Take full ownership of assay development projects, driving them from concept through to implementation, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Your hands-on lab work and statistical analysis will be central to this process.
Required Skills and Background
Educational Background: PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related field, with 5+ years of biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience in assay development, particularly in high-throughput environments.
Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in developing protein and cell-based assays for high-throughput screening, with a strong hands-on approach and deep understanding of statistical methods. In particular, we are looking for someone with a deep understanding of enzymatic assays and kinetics, protein assays, such as ELISA and Western analysis, and LC-based characterization and quantification of proteins.
Leadership Abilities: Proven leadership experience, with the ability to manage and motivate a team while maintaining a hands-on approach in the lab.
Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to think creatively and critically to address scientific and technical challenges directly in the lab, supported by robust statistical analysis.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Experience working across multiple disciplines and departments to achieve project goals, with an emphasis on translating lab-based and statistically-driven insights into broader strategic objectives.
Data Analysis: Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation, with a passion for using statistical methods to drive decisions and improve processes, both at the bench and in broader planning.
Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational and prioritization abilities, with a focus on delivering high-quality results on time, particularly in a lab setting.
Adaptability: Willingness to take on new challenges and responsibilities as the company grows and evolves, with a readiness to engage directly in lab work as needed.
Preferred Skills and Background
Automation Experience: Experience with high-throughput automation and robotics is a plus, particularly if gained through hands-on lab work.
Programming Skills: Familiarity with data analysis scripting languages such as Python, R, or Matlab is desirable, especially for implementing and automating statistical methods in high-throughput screening.
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