Senior Scientist II, Upstream Process Development and MSAT

Scholar Rock; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Scholar Rock is seeking a scientifically accomplished scientist for Upstream Process Development and MSAT to optimize cell culture processes for antibody production. The role requires extensive mammalian cell culture experience (ideally CHO) and bioreactor operation, with collaboration across development and manufacturing.

You will work with both in-house and CDMO scientists to progress programs from early development through commercialization, contributing to robust regulatory filings and

Qualifications

• Background in chemical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, or related biological sciences.
• Experience with DOE, QBD development, process characterization and process validation.
• Direct experience with mAbs and CHO cell culture preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to summarize results for leadership.
• Some travel required (on-site manufacturing involvement).

Responsibilities

• Drive upstream process development activities for biologics programs, including cell culture process experimental design, media and feed optimization, and bioreactor process characterization. Execute in-lab as needed and present data and recommendations to inform development direction to leadership.
• Provide guidance for upstream scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturability assessments and validation activities across external manufacturing sites
• Serve as a subject matter expert for external upstream process development activities, including collaborating with external CDMOs to design robust and technically sound experiments to progress Scholar Rock’s development pipeline
• Serve as a subject matter expert for internal upstream process development activities. Collaborate cross-functionally with Research, Analytical Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Downstream Process Development teams to advance programs from early development through commercialization
• Support research, downstream process development, and assay development as needed
• Design experiments and draft protocols to support critical manufacturing deviations and investigations, including internal experimental execution and studies designed for external CMO execution; support the development and implementation of future internal high-throughput bioreactor capabilities, such as AMBR.
• Review manufacturing documents and troubleshoot outsourced manufacturing processes as needed
• Support clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing with person-in-plant activities
• Author upstream technical reports to enable program stage progression and robust regulatory filing input

Skills

DOE development

QBD development

Process characterization

Mammalian cell culture

CHO cells

Bioreactor operation

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering or related field

PhD in related field

Tools

Ambr 15/250 high throughput system

Job description

Scholar Rock is delivering muscle-targeted breakthroughs to transform the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other rare neuromuscular diseases where muscle atrophy remains a critical unmet need.

As a global leader in myostatin biology, a field focused on proteins that regulate muscle mass, the biopharmaceutical company is named for the visual resemblance of a scholar rock to protein structures. Our commitment to unlock fundamentally different treatment approaches is powered by broad application of a proprietary platform, which has developed novel monoclonal antibodies to modulate protein growth factors with extraordinary selectivity. Scholar Rock works every day to create new possibilities for patients through its highly innovative anti-myostatin program, including opportunities in additional rare neuromuscular diseases. Learn more about our neuromuscular franchise at ScholarRock.com and follow @ScholarRock on X and on LinkedIn.

Summary of Position:

The Technical Operations Organization at Scholar Rock is seeking a scientifically accomplished and motivated scientist in the Upstream Process Development and MSAT group. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and optimizing cell culture processes for antibody production and be comfortable working on multiple priorities at once across both development and manufacturing. Significant experience with mammalian cell culture techniques (ideally CHO cells) and bioreactor operation is required. The selected candidate will work alongside both in-house and CDMO scientists to advance existing projects through the development and product lifecycle and help start up new projects.

Position Responsibilities

• Drive upstream process development activities for early- and late-stage biologics programs, including cell culture process experimental design, media and feed optimization, and bioreactor process characterization. Execute in-lab as needed and present data and recommendations to inform development direction to leadership.
• Provide guidance for upstream scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturability assessments and validation activities across external manufacturing sites
• Serve as a subject matter expert for external upstream process development activities, including collaborating with external CDMOs to design robust and technically sound experiments to progress Scholar Rock’s development pipeline
• Serve as a subject matter expert for internal upstream process development activities. Collaborate cross-functionally with Research, Analytical Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Downstream Process Development teams to advance programs from early development through commercialization
• Support research, downstream process development, and assay development as needed
• Design experiments and draft protocols to support critical manufacturing deviations and investigations, including internal experimental execution and studies designed for external CMO execution; support the development and implementation of future internal high-throughput bioreactor capabilities, such as AMBR.
• Review manufacturing documents and troubleshoot outsourced manufacturing processes as needed
• Support clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing with person-in-plant activities
• Author upstream technical reports to enable program stage progression and robust regulatory filing input

Candidate Requirements

• Educational background in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related biological Sciences
• Experience in DOE, QBD development, process characterization and process validation exercises highly desired
• Direct experience working with mAbs and CHO cell culture is preferred
• BS or MS with 10+ years of experience, Ph.D. with 5+ years of experience
• Experience with Ambr 15/250 high throughput cell culture desired
• Experience with tech transfer to manufacturing preferred
• Cell line development experience is a plus
• Strong attention to detail and experience in summarizing and presenting results to leadership is required
• Some travel required (person-in-plant)

$155,000 - $195,000 a year

Scholar Rock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees