Senior Associate Scientist - Flow Cytometry

Charles River Laboratories; Mattawan (MI); On-site; USD 48,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus incentives

401K

Paid time off

Stock purchase program

Health and wellness coverage

Wellbeing programs

Work life balance

Job summary

Charles River Laboratories is seeking a skilled scientist in the Immunotox group to support drug development by performing immune response analyses and cell-based assays. You will develop, validate, and analyze data across regulated and non-regulated non-clinical studies.

The role emphasizes project portfolio management, data integrity, and collaboration with sponsors, with the goal of timely, high-quality results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences with 5–7 years relevant experience, or Master’s with 1–2 years, or PhD with no experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities across levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; ability to learn validated systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of sample analysis projects and meet timelines.
• Review and approve data; support scientific/technical decisions.
• Assist with quality audits and investigations; respond to QA observations.
• Write study plans/protocols/amendments with guidance.
• Communicate with sponsors and internal teams; ensure data integrity.
• Develop and validate quantitative/qualitative methods under scope.
• Perform data analysis using appropriate software.

Skills

Communication skills

MS Office

Validated systems

Extended hours availability

Team collaboration

US work authorization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences

Master’s degree in life sciences

PhD in life sciences

Tools

Data analysis software

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

The Immunotox group supports drug development by investigating immune responses using flow cytometry. The group supports immunophenotyping endpoints, isolation of PBMCs and cell-based stimulation assays. Utilizing these platforms/assays, the team is responsible for the method development, validation and routine sample analysis in both the regulated and non-regulated space of non-clinical studies.

Essential Functions

• Effectively manage a portfolio of sample analysis projects while ensuring timelines are met in a single operational area with oversight
• Execute review and approval of data with oversight for final scientific/technical decisions within a single operational area
• Develop understanding of compliance expectations to respond to quality assurance audit observations in appropriate software with oversight
• Assist with oversight the completion of laboratory investigations, assay troubleshooting and quality observations
• Assist in problem solving for technical and/or regulatory issues with oversight
• Responsible for writing and preparing study plans/protocols/amendments with minimal oversight
• Participate in Sponsor visits/tours with minimal oversight
• Develop expertise in developing and validating quantitative/qualitative methods/procedures with limited complexity/scope in one operational area with minimal oversight
• Perform data analysis using appropriate software with minimal oversight
• Develop critical thinking, troubleshooting and time management skills aligned with needs of operational areas
• Demonstrate effective communication skills through informal discussions with peers, supervisor, and team; Function as a liaison, maintaining timely and frequent communication between CRL and Sponsor/Client/SD with minimal oversight
• Ensure scientific integrity of studies with minimal oversight
• Function as a Principal Investigator, Individual Scientist and/or Study Director as assigned with minimal oversight
• Actively communicate and collaborate across operational areas in order to adhere to timelines and produce quality data
• Efficiently perform and document all procedures, materials and results in compliance with applicable regulatory standards as applicable (protocols, methods, SOPs, etc.)
• Write, review and approve deviations with oversight
• Develop knowledge of regulatory and GXP requirements, industry standards and company SOPs within one operational area
• Effectively manage a small portfolio of research projects including method development and validation while ensuring timelines are met in a single operational area with oversight
• Performs all other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) with 5-7 years of relevant working experience. Master’s degree (MS) with 1-2 years of relevant work experience. Doctorate degree (PhD) with no experience
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels inside and outside the organization
• Basic familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite
• Computer skills, commensurate with Essential Functions, including the ability to learn a validated system
• Ability to work extended hours beyond normal work schedule to include, but not limited to evenings, weekends, extended shifts, and/or extra shifts
• Sometimes on short notice
• Ability to work under specific time constraints
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without a sponsor visa, now or in the future.

The pay rate for this role is $80k/year.

About Safety Assessment

Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.

• bonus/incentives based on performance
• 401K
• paid time off
• stock purchase program
• Health and wellness coverage
• employee and family wellbeing support programs
• work life balance flexibility

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e‑mail message to [e-mail]. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

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