Cell Line Creation Scientist

Esco Aster Pte. Ltd.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Esco Aster Pte Ltd seeks a skilled scientist to lead cell line development and immortalization for therapeutic manufacturing. You will drive projects from vector choice through single-cell cloning, stability, and GMP documentation while coordinating with clients and partners.

Collaborate with Process Development, Manufacturing, QA/Regulatory teams, and external testing labs to ensure successful tech transfer and regulatory submissions. Strong leadership and communication required.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master with extensive experience in cell line development and immortalization.
• Hands-on GMP experience with MCB/WCB establishment and release testing.
• Strong knowledge of ICH guidelines Q5A/Q5B/Q5D/Q6B relevant to cell substrates.
• Experience with primary human cells or complex substrates and transfection methods.
• Excellent written and spoken communication; able to present to internal and client teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute cell line creation strategies for various cell types used in therapeutic manufacturing.
• Lead immortalization programs from vector delivery to single-cell cloning and stability assessment.
• Evaluate gene delivery methods (viral and non-viral) for stable transgene integration.
• Support technology transfer activities and contribute to regulatory documentation.
• Act as SME on cell line creation; mentor junior scientists and write SOPs and reports.
• Coordinate with Process Development, Manufacturing, QA and external labs for testing and release.

Skills

Cell biology

Molecular biology

Biochemistry

hTERT immortalization

GMP awareness

Data analysis (Excel)

Scientific communication

Team collaboration

Transfection methods

Education

Master or PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry

Tools

Non-viral transfection

Electroporation

Viral vectors

Job description

The Opportunity

Esco Lifesciences Group is Singapore’s most globalized life sciences company, with annual revenues close to SGD 200M and global operations in over 42 locations and 26 direct countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania.

Esco Aster Pte Ltd is an affiliate of Esco Lifesciences Group and was first incorporated in 2017.

Esco Aster is a contract research development and manufacturing organization founded and deeply rooted by scientists enabling fellow scientists to translate their bench work into commercially available products at affordable prices.

Our scientific work is in emerging and frontier biology utilizing cells as a final product or deriving products from cells which often we use cells as the factory to derive our target product.

Our first commercial breakthrough success is Esco Aster is commercially first in class being first in the world to be certified for cultivated/cell-based meat to FSSC 22000 and by a competent food regulatory body.

We are first in the region to operate an end-to-end integrated full cell line creation/immortalization or engineered cell line, cell culture process development, analytical development for stem cells and exosomes with full cGMP Capabilities from Drug Substance and small-scale fill & finish for final Cell Therapy Product.

The work we do creates a remarkable and lasting impact on our world. We offer you an opportunity to be part of this exciting journey to own your career and firsthand exposure to new emerging modalities supporting translational sciences.

Who we’re looking for

Physical/Mental Requirements/Work Environment

• Ability to read, analyse and interpret scientific data and publications.
• Ability to author or review protocols, technical reports and technology transfer documents.
• Ability to author or review standard operating procedures and other related documents.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions.
• Ability to focus.
• Repetitive motions due to certain laboratory techniques.
• Ability to adapt and keep up with rapid changes in a fluid and dynamic environment as this is a rapidly evolving space.
• Good understanding of cGMP and GDP requirement and practices.
• Able to don in the cleanroom gowning and understand Aseptic Behaviour requirements.

The Scope

You will be part of Esco Aster’s scientific division and contribute to the company’s CDMO mission by leading cell line development and characterization programmes for therapeutic manufacturing applications. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, clients, and partners, you will drive activities related to cell immortalization, GMP-compliant cell banking, cell characterization, technology transfer, and regulatory support, while providing scientific leadership across client and development projects.

Primary Work Location: Ayer Rajah Crescent, Singapore

Cell Line Development & Immortalization

• Design and execute cell line creation strategies for a range of primary human cell types and cell substrates used in therapeutic manufacturing.
• Lead immortalization programmes from vector selection and delivery through to single-cell cloning, expansion, and stability assessment.
• Evaluate and implement gene delivery methods (viral and non-viral) for stable transgene introduction.
• Support client technology transfer activities related to proprietary cell line creation workflows, as required by project scope.

Cell Banking (MCB/WCB)

• Establish and qualify Master Cell Banks and Working Cell Banks in compliance with ICH Q5Dand applicable GMP guidelines.
• Define pre-cloning pool testing strategies and MCB characterisation plans with appropriate risk-based justification, in alignment with ICH Q5A and Q5Brequirements.
• Prepare and review cell banking protocols, batch records, and certificates of analysis.

Cell Characterisation & Safety Testing

• Design and oversee comprehensive cell characterisation programmes covering identity(STR profiling, karyotyping), safety (adventitious agents, LIVCA/RT assay, HERV screening, mycoplasma), and stability (population doubling, phenotype).
• Interpret characterisation data in the context of regulatory requirements (ICH Q5A, Q5B,Q5D, Q6B) and support preparation of regulatory documentation.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory guidance from FDA, EMA, and PMDA relevant to novel cell substrates.

Scientific Leadership & Collaboration

• Act as the internal subject matter expert on cell line creation, providing scientific guidance to project teams, QA, and clients as needed.
• Mentor junior scientists in cell culture techniques, experimental design, and GMP documentation practices.
• Support proposal development and technical scoping for new client engagements involving cell line creation services.
• Author and review SOPs, technical reports, development reports, and regulatory module contributions.
• Collaborate with Process Development, Manufacturing and Quality Assurance/Regulatory teams to ensure successful progression of cell line creation projects from development through technology transfer.
• Coordinate activities with external testing laboratories and service providers to support cell characterization and release testing.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, platform technology development, and operational excellence within the Cell Line Creation team.
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as assigned, based on project and business needs.

Minimum Requirements

• Master or PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline, with at least 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in cell line development.
• Demonstrated expertise in human cell immortalization, including practical experience with hTERT-based strategies and single-cell cloning workflows.
• Hands-on experience establishing GMP-compliant MCB/WCB, including associated documentation and release testing.
• Strong working knowledge of ICH guidelines relevant to cell substrates: Q5A, Q5B, Q5D, and Q6B.
• Experience working with primary human cell types or complex cell substrates that present challenges for standard immortalization and banking workflows.
• Proficiency with non-viral transfection and electroporation platforms, and/or viral vector-based gene delivery systems.
• Ability to design, interpret, and document complex experimental programmes with rigorous scientific reasoning.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (complex formulas, data linking) and the ability to interpret experimental trends to propose logical next steps.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to learn new techniques and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively explain experimental results to internal stakeholders and clients.
• Ability to work well independently and in a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Strict attention to detail and a commitment to complying with company policies, site safety requirements and applicable regulations.

Preferred Requirements

• Familiarity with cell fate conversion or reprogramming technologies involving small molecules or defined transcription factor combinations.
• Experience in a GMP CDMO or CMO environment.
• Knowledge of EV biology and upstream EV production from continuous cell lines.
• Exposure to regulatory submissions (IND, CTA, or equivalent) involving novel cell substrates.
• Understanding of PMDA regulatory requirements for cell-based therapeutic products.
• Experience coordinating with external testing laboratories for compendial safety testing.