Molecular Biology Scientist/Senior Associate Scientist

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 93,463 - 122,670; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with company match

Paid parental leave

Flexible spending and health savings accounts

Life and AD&D insurance

Short- and long-term disability coverage

Job summary

Legend Biotech in Philadelphia is seeking a Molecular Biology Scientist/Senior Associate Scientist to support lentiviral vector design and cell line development.

This role emphasizes timely experimental execution and collaboration across teams, ensuring high-quality plasmid construction and molecular assays. Ideal candidates should have advanced degrees and significant experience in molecular biology practices.

The position offers a competitive salary and benefits including medical insurance, a 401(k) plan, and paid parental leave.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in molecular biology techniques including cloning, plasmid prep, and sequence analysis.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and transient transfection.
• Familiarity with BSL-2 practices.

Responsibilities

• Execute viral vector plasmid design and construction.
• Perform molecular cloning workflows and ensure plasmid quality.
• Analyze data and present experiment conclusions.

Skills

Molecular cloning

Cell engineering

Mammalian cell culture

qPCR/dPCR

Flow cytometry

Western blot

ELISA

CRISPR/Cas gene editing

Viral vector production

Documentation skills

Education

M.S. in a related field with 5+ years experience or Ph.D. with 0-2 years

Job description

Position

Molecular Biology Scientist / Senior Associate Scientist – Research & Early Development

Philadelphia, PA

Role Overview

Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating and one day curing life‑threatening diseases. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, we develop advanced cell therapies across a diverse array of technology platforms, including autologous and allogenic chimeric antigen receptor T‑cell, T‑cell receptor (TCR‑T), and natural killer (NK) cell‑based immunotherapy. From our three R&D sites worldwide, we apply these innovative technologies to discover safe, efficacious, and cutting‑edge therapeutics for patients globally.

The Molecular Biology Scientist/Senior Associate Scientist will work on the Vector Biology team in Philadelphia, supporting lentiviral vector (LVV) design, construction, and functional evaluation, as well as engineered cell line development to enable CAR‑T and other cell therapy programs. This role emphasizes reliable experimental execution, timely delivery of materials, and clear data communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute viral vector plasmid and helper plasmid design and construction to support gene overexpression, knock‑down, and knock‑out studies independently.
• Perform routine molecular cloning workflows and ensure plasmid quality meets established QC standards for vector production.
• Maintain accurate plasmid records including sequence files, maps, inventory/locations and support internal construct requests in partnership with other cross‑functional teams.
• Generate and characterize engineered mammalian cell lines for transient or stable viral vector production, single‑cell cloning, cell engineering, and basic characterization.
• Perform mammalian cell culture and transient transfection under BSL‑2 conditions.
• Support small‑scale vector production using suspension cell lines for early development activities.
• Execute molecular/cellular assays to evaluate vector performance using qPCR/dPCR, ELISA/Western blot, and flow cytometry.
• Analyze data, summarize results, present clear experiment conclusions, escalates issues, and proposes next steps to project leads.
• Adhere to BSL‑2 biosafety standards and Legend policies, maintaining accurate and compliant electronic lab notebooks and documentation.
• Collaborate for cross‑functional support and tech transfer activities as needed.
• Independently plan day‑to‑day execution within project goals, recommending optimizations and next experiments.

Requirements

• Scientist: M.S. with 5+ years of experience or Ph.D. with 0‑2 years in a related field; hands‑on molecular cloning, cell engineering, and mammalian cell culture required.
• Hands‑on experience in molecular biology techniques (cloning, plasmid prep, sequence analysis, and construct verification).
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and transient transfection; familiarity with BSL‑2 practices and documentation.
• Experience generating engineered cell lines (stable expression and/or CRISPR KO/KI) including cloning and basic screening (Scientist preferred).
• Exposure to viral vector production and/or viral vector workflows (LVV preferred).
• Experience with titering and functional readouts (e.g., transduction efficiency and gene expression).
• Experience with qPCR/dPCR, flow cytometry, Western blot, and ELISA for titering and functional assays.
• Strong ELN documentation, sample tracking, and ability to follow protocols/SOPs with attention to detail.
• Adaptability to a fast‑paced environment; effective prioritization, collaboration, and communication.
• CRISPR/Cas gene editing for KO/KI or multiplexed cell lines.
• Familiarity with viral vector process development concepts (upstream and/or downstream).
• Exposure to NGS or Nanopore sequencing for vector or genome characterization.
• Tech transfer and/or CMC documentation experience (nice to have).
• Organized and detail‑oriented; able to manage multiple experiments/projects.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills to troubleshoot and implement improvements.
• Collaborative; able to work effectively within a team environment.
• Maintain accurate ELN, sample tracking, and inventory records.
• Clear written and verbal communication for documentation and data presentation.

Pay Range (Base Pay)

$93,463 – $122,670 USD

Benefits and Paid Time Off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with company match; eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave after three (3) months; paid time off policy including vacation, personal, sick, floating holidays, and eleven (11) company holidays; flexible spending and health savings accounts; life and AD&D insurance; short‑ and long‑term disability coverage; legal assistance; supplemental plans (pet, critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity); voluntary commuter benefits; family planning and care resources; well‑being initiatives; peer‑to‑peer recognition programs.

Note

Benefits and paid time off are offered exclusively to permanent full‑time employees. Contractors are not eligible for benefits.

EEO Statement

It is the policy of Legend Biotech to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances.

Employment Termination Clause

Employment is at‑will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice by the employee or the company.

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