Research Associate, Purification Process Development (Contractor)

Visterra Inc.; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Visterra Inc. is seeking a Research Associate Contractor in Purification Process Development in Waltham, MA. The role will execute lab-based experiments, support process development, and collaborate with Analytical Development, Cell Culture, QA, and contract manufacturing partners.

Expect to spend ~80% of time in the lab at Visterra’s Waltham facilities. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Purification, you will plan experiments to assess developability of candidate molecules, present data at

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, biology or a related discipline; 0-2 years of industry experience may apply.
• Experience developing and supporting liquid chromatography purification unit operations across modality and scale, including operation of AKTA chromatography controllers.
• Ability to think critically and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Capacity to work independently, meet deadlines and prioritize work.

Responsibilities

• Execute experiments in purification lab to generate material for internal customers and support process development and tech transfer.
• Present work at department and cross-functional meetings; contribute as a process lead in drug development team meetings.
• Troubleshoot and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Document experimental results in notebooks, transfer docs and reports; present data in meetings.
• Keep current with new technologies to improve process development capabilities.

Skills

Critical thinking

Effective communication

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in a related field

Tools

AKTA controllers

Chromatography equipment

Job description

The Opportunity

The Research Associate Contractor in Purification Process Development will be responsible for executing downstream purification activities at Visterra. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Purification, the Associate is responsible for execution of experiments in the lab to support progress of Visterra molecules though development. The Associate will work closely with internal partners in Analytical Development, Cell Culture, and Quality Assurance as well as with external partners at contract manufacturing sites. The Associate will work closely with the research team to plan and execute lab-based experiments for assessing the developability of candidate molecules and should expect to be in the lab roughly 80% of the time. This is a contract position located at Visterra’s offices in Waltham, MA.

Responsibilities

• Executing experiments in Visterra’s state-of-the-art purification lab to generate material for internal customers, support process development and tech transfer, and to develop an understanding of the developability of candidate therapeutics. Planning and executing experiments designed to evaluate the developability of candidate protein therapeutics.
• Presenting work at department and cross functional meetings and contributing as a process lead in drug development team meetings.
• Troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory equipment.
• Documenting experimental results in lab notebooks, tech transfer documents, and technical reports and presenting data at meetings.
• Keeping current with new technologies to improve process development capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in chemical engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, biology or related discipline or master’s degree with 0-2 years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience in developing and supporting liquid chromatography purification unit operations across modality and scale, including operation of AKTA chromatography controllers.
• The ability to think critically and communicate effectively across a broad spectrum of audiences both internal and external.
• An ability to work independently, meet deadlines and prioritize work effectively.

About Visterra

Visterra is a biotechnology company focused on discovery, pre-clinical research and clinical trial material manufacturing of biologic therapeutic candidates. We are committed to developing innovative protein-based therapies for the treatment of patients with kidney, immune-mediated and other hard-to-treat diseases. We have a robust pipeline of discovery and preclinical-stage programs. Several Visterra-originated assets are being studied in clinical trials by our affiliates or partners and one asset, VIS649 (sibeprenlimab), has received FDA approval. Visterra is an indirect wholly-owned, independent operating subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a global pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company headquartered in Japan. As a member of the Otsuka family of companies, we are uniquely positioned as a small, nimble and innovative organization where individuals and teams are empowered to make big impacts – while benefiting from the support, strength, stability and long-term perspective of a 100-year-old global company. We have approximately 100 employees and are located in Waltham, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit visterrainc.com.

Salary range: $37.50 - $46.80 Hourly

Visterra provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.