Scientist, T-cell Biology-----Santa Monica, CA

Zenith LifeScience; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Zenith LifeScience LLC. seeks an experienced scientist to evaluate emerging live-cell imaging and cell analysis platforms for QC in next-generation cell therapies. You will benchmark against current QC methods and drive recommendations to move technologies into automated, high-throughput QC.

This role sits in Technical Operations and requires independent execution, collaboration with analytics and IT teams, and delivery of time-sensitive studies that meet regulatory expectations.

Qualifications

• PhD in cell biology or related field completed by start date, or MS with 4+ years hands-on research experience.
• Hands-on cell-based imaging experience (fluorescence/confocal/high-contentImaging or imaging flow cytometry).
• Hands-on primary cell culture and assay plating with aseptic technique.
• Ability to design and run experiments end to end with appropriate controls and statistics.
• Independent work style with minimal supervision and timely delivery of results.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate new technologies and software for potential QC use in cell therapies.
• Conduct hands-on experiments to address assay gaps and technical questions.
• Set up and troubleshoot in vitro/ex vivo experiments with proper controls.
• Establish experimental parameters and optimization workflows.
• Work with primary T cells and imaging methods.
• Collaborate with SMEs and internal stakeholders.
• Operate in a BSL-2 lab.

Skills

Imaging experience

Independent researcher

Experiment design

Data analysis

Communication

Troubleshooting

Learning new technologies

Primary T-cell culture

BSL-2 laboratory

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in cell biology

MS with 4+ years hands-on research

Tools

High-content imaging

Flow cytometry

Imaging flow cytometry

Benchling

Job description

• A PhD in T-cell biology, immunology, molecular biology, or cellular biology is preferred.
• A curious, resourceful scientist who can think critically and work independently.
• Someone who can design experiments, identify appropriate controls, and determine the right parameters without step-by-step direction.
• Hands-on wet-lab experience, including preparing cell dilutions and mixtures.
• Careful handling of delicate primary T-cell cultures.
• Imaging experience, including setting up image acquisition; experience with a specific instrument is not required.
• Ability to optimize experiments, troubleshoot results, and learn new technologies, platforms, and software quickly.
• Clear communication of scientific methods, findings, and reasoning.
• Candidates with a master’s degree and substantial relevant academic research experience are also encouraged to apply.
• Cell therapy or industry experience is not required; candidates transitioning from academia are welcome.
• Relevant publications in T-cell imaging, T-cell assays, or in-vitro assay optimization are a plus.

What the role entails

• Evaluate new technologies, platforms, and software for potential use in cell therapy quality control.
• Conduct hands-on experiments to investigate technical questions and address assay gaps.
• Set up, optimize, and troubleshoot in-vitro/ex-vivo experiments.
• Establish appropriate experimental controls and parameters.
• Work with primary T-cell cultures and imaging methods.
• Collaborate with subject-matter experts and internal stakeholders.
• Work in a BSL-2 laboratory.

Job Description

Want your experiments to shape how next-generation cell therapies are tested? You will evaluate emerging live-cell imaging and cell analysis platforms, benchmark them against current QC methods, and recommend which ones move into automated, high-throughput QC.

Unlike discovery or academic research, this role sits in technical operations: each study answers a defined business question on a set timeline, and methods must ultimately meet regulatory expectations. You will partner with analytical automation, analytical development, data science, QC and Lab Operations/IT teams, as well as instrument vendors.

This is not an entry-level role. It suits PhD scientists moving into industry, or experienced MS scientists. You will work independently with minimal supervision, so candidates who can initiate work and deliver on time-sensitive projects are especially encouraged to apply.

Key responsibilities

• Design and run feasibility studies, demos and vendor evaluations of new live-cell imaging and cell analysis platforms, such as high-content imagers, flow cytometers and cell imagers from Yokogawa (e.g., CQ1), Revvity, Agilent, Client, Molecular Devices and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
• Benchmark new platforms against current QC methods on accuracy, precision, sensitivity, robustness, throughput and hands-on time.
• Culture genetically modified primary human T cells and cell lines using aseptic technique; count, assess viability, normalize to target densities and plate into multi-well assays, manually or with semi-automated tools.
• Prepare cell samples and experimental conditions for assays: fluorescent antibody staining and titration for flow and imaging cytometry, serial dilutions of cell densities, and conditions such as heat-killed controls and effector-to-target (E:T) cytotoxicity co-cultures.
• Develop, optimize and troubleshoot imaging-based assays, from sample preparation through image acquisition and analysis.
• Work with automation and data science colleagues to adapt promising methods for integration with lab automation.
• Analyze data with appropriate statistics and communicate findings through reports and presentations.
• Document work in an electronic lab notebook (e.g., Benchling) following good documentation practices.
• Serve as a technical contact for vendors and cross-functional partners.
• Order reagents and consumables and keep instruments and lab areas in good working order.
• You will own each evaluation end to end, from plan to recommendation:
• Evaluation plans with clear success criteria
• Comparison data and gap analyses
• Desk-based projections of ROI and key assay parameters (e.g., throughput, cost per sample, hands-on time) that compare similar technologies and instruments
• Assessment reports with a clear recommendation: adopt, adapt or do not pursue
• Draft protocols and SOP inputs for platforms that move forward

Required qualifications

• PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, bioengineering or a related field (completed by start date), or an MS in a related field with 4+ years of hands-on research experience
• Hands-on cell-based imaging experience, such as fluorescence or confocal microscopy, high-content imaging or imaging flow cytometry
• Hands-on primary cell and cell line culture, counting and assay plating with strong aseptic technique
• A track record of working independently with minimal supervision: designing and running experiments end to end, with appropriate controls, replicates and statistics
• Takes initiative rather than waiting for tasks to be assigned, and communicates proactively to discuss progress and deliver results on time-sensitive deadlines

Preferred qualifications

• Working knowledge of fluorescent antibody staining and titration for flow or imaging cytometry, including designing basic 5-color panels
• Experience with primary T cells, cell therapy or GxP environments
• Data and image analysis with tools such as GraphPad Prism, JMP or vendor imaging software, plus scripting (e.g., Python, CellProfiler, Fiji/ImageJ)
• Detail-oriented and organized across several concurrent projects
• Familiarity with method qualification and validation (e.g., ICH Q2(R2), Q14)
• Lab automation or liquid handler experience
• Experience with Benchling or another ELN