Scientist I

Planet Pharma; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma in South San Francisco, CA is seeking a Scientist I/II to join the Cell Line Development Group, developing CHO cell lines for GMP applications. You will perform hands-on CHO cell line development and characterization to advance biotherapeutics into human clinical studies.

This laboratory position covers molecular, cellular, and bioprocess development, scale-up from 96-well plates to shake flasks, and rigorous data integrity in ELNs while collaborating with purification, analytics,

Qualifications

• Hands-on CHO cell line development and characterization.
• Experience with transfection, screening, and cell banking.
• Strong documentation and ELN data integrity practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead CHO cell line development workflows from 96-well plates to shake flasks.
• Perform monoclonal cell line generation and banking.
• Engineer DNA constructs and perform PCR/qPCR/NGS analyses.
• Operate ViCell, Octet, flow cytometers, HPLC, and automation equipment.
• Collaborate with purification, analytics, and formulation teams.
• Maintain compliant ELNs and meticulous data records.

Skills

CHO cell line development

Monoclonal cell line generation

Molecular characterization

Data documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences

Tools

ViCell

Octet

Flow cytometry

Ambr15

HPLC

NGS

Job description

Target PR Range: 42-52/hr

• Depending on experience

The Cell Line Development Group in South San Francisco, CA is seeking a Scientist I/II to join a talented and collaborative team developing CHO cell lines for GMP applications. In this laboratory position the candidate will perform hands-on CHO cell line development and characterization studies in a well-supported and dynamic environment to help advance novel biotherapeutics into human clinical studies. The work will encompass molecular, cellular, and bioprocess development studies relating to the generation and characterization of optimized CHO cell lines for production of our cancer pipeline candidates.

Key Responsibilities

• CHO Cell Line Development & Execution: Lead the end-to-end execution of CHO cell line development workflows for both pipeline and innovation projects. This includes managing post-transfection selective pressures, high-throughput screening, and scaling cultures from 96-well plates to shake flasks.
• Monoclonal Cell Line Generation & Banking: Expertly perform single-cell cloning to generate and establish monoclonal CHO cell lines. Create, expand, and meticulously characterize master and working cell banks.
• Genetic & Molecular Characterization: Engineer and generate complex DNA vector constructs for expressing antibodies and novel protein formats. Perform deep genetic characterization of cell banks by extracting DNA/RNA for analysis via PCR, qPCR/ddPCR, and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
• Advanced Instrumentation & Automation: Skillfully operate and maintain a suite of key laboratory instruments, including ViCell, Octet, flow cytometers, ambr15, HPLC, and automated imagers.
• Cross-functional Collaboration & Communication: Present scientific updates at cross-functional meetings, collaborating closely with colleagues in purification, analytical, and formulation development to drive projects forward and meet aggressive timelines.
• Data Integrity & Documentation: Maintain meticulous, contemporaneous records of all experimental designs, data, and analysis in electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), ensuring compliance with standards for data integrity and good documentation practices.