Study Engineer - Process Development (F/M)

Institut Curie - Research Center; France; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Institut Curie is a premier cancer research center with hospital and research components near Paris. CellAction develops GMP-ready cell and gene therapy processes and conducts translational work for clinical use.

The Process Development group focuses on manufacturing process development, analytical methods, and regulatory readiness. Start date as soon as possible; 6-month contract, full-time (39 hours/week). Salary: 30,396–33,013€ per year.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required in biotechnology-related field.
• 2–5 years of process development experience in cell/gene therapy or drug development.
• Fluent in English; French a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and adapt manufacturing processes for cell and gene therapies.
• Develop analytical methods for product characterization (viability, purity, potency).
• Monitor critical process parameters and product quality attributes.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and document results.
• Prepare technical reports and development documentation per regulatory standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce costs.

Skills

Aseptic mammalian cell culture

Primary T-cell culture

Cell activation

Cell expansion systems

Viral transduction techniques

Immunophenotyping (Flow cytometry)

Analytical characterization

CQAs knowledge

GMP knowledge

Regulatory expectations

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Team collaboration

English fluency

Education

Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or related field

Tools

CRISPR-Cas

Flow cytometry

Job description

Organisation/Company Institut Curie - Research Center Department Administration Research Field Medical sciences » Cancer research Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 25 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 25 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Institut Curie is one of the largest European institutions for cancer and biomedical research, with strong interdisciplinary traditions. It comprises a hospital and a Research Center with more than 3,500 researchers, physicians, and healthcare staff, and has strong international representation around its three missions: patient care, research, and education. It is located across three main sites, in central Paris, St. Cloud, and Orsay, France, within a culturally and scientifically rich environment. The main objective of the Institut Curie Research Center is to develop fundamental research and to use the knowledge generated to improve cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, within a continuum linking basic research to innovation for the benefit of patients.

Laboratory - CellAction

CellAction is part of Institut Curie’s commitment to building unique expertise in cell and gene therapy. It integrates multidisciplinary competencies in bioinformatics, target discovery and validation, molecular biology, genome editing, viral and non-viral vector design, cell engineering, and the development of in vitro and in vivo tumor models for cell and gene therapy applications. Furthermore, CellAction provides pre-GMP process development expertise, aiming to generate fully characterized, GMP-ready cell therapy products that can be manufactured in dedicated GMP facilities and subsequently evaluated in clinical settings.

In 2025, CellAction was permanently established at the Saint-Cloud site of Institut Curie.

At the Process Development group at CellAction, our activities focus on the development and optimization of manufacturing processes for cell- and gene-based therapies, ensuring translational feasibility and compliance with regulatory standards for clinical-grade production.

• Develop, optimize, and adapt manufacturing processes for cell and gene therapies, including viral/non-viral vectors and genome editing.
• Develop analytical methods for product characterization, viability, purity, and potency.
• Monitor critical process parameters and product quality attributes.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, communicate results, and contribute to troubleshooting.
• Prepare technical reports, SOPs, and development documentation in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, optimize costs, and increase efficiency.
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies in cell and gene therapy.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge therapies
• Dynamic and collaborative environment
• Competitive salary and benefits package

Profile and Qualification

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or related field
• 2–5 years of experience in process development (cell therapy, gene therapy, or drug development)

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated proficiency in aseptic mammalian cell culture, with preference for experience in primary T-cell culture, cell activation, and cell expansion systems, viral transduction techniques, immunophenotyping (e.g. Flow cytometry)
• Knowledge of analytical characterization and critical quality attributes (CQAs), preferably for cell and gene therapy drug products, including titer, purity, potency, and sterility.
• Hands-on experience with site-specific gene-editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR-Cas) is desirable; however, it is not mandatory.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical and scientific information to multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of GMP environment and regulatory expectations is desirable; however, it is not mandatory.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and fast-paced environment
• Fluent in English; French is a plus

Required Skills and Competencies

• Ability to work independently in managing routine tasks
• Strong organizational skills
• Adaptability and responsiveness
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team

All our opportunities are open to individuals with disabilities.

Contract Information

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract duration: 6 months, renewable for an additional 12 months

Working time: Full-time – 39 hours per week

Salary: 30396€ à 33013€/year according to current salary scales

Benefits: Company cafeteria, 70% coverage of annual public transportation pass, company health insurance

Faithful to the legacy of its founder, the Institut Curie is deeply committed to promoting equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion. Convinced that diversity of backgrounds and experiences contributes to collective performance, we strive to provide everyone with a respectful and equitable working environment and encourage all candidates to apply for our job opportunities.