Wet Lab Scientist

Avispa MedOps; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Avispa MedOps is seeking a Wet Lab Scientist in San Diego to execute bench-level assays for a binder screening campaign targeting T-cell therapies. You will contribute to non-viral engineering of primary human T cells and assess functionality in high-throughput screens.

The role requires experience with flow cytometry, aseptic technique, and data management in an ELN, with frequent data presentation during sprint meetings. This is an onsite, 40-hour week assignment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on wet lab experience, preferably in industry.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or related field.
• Mastery of aseptic technique and primary T cell isolation.
• Expertise in flow cytometry acquisition and analysis.
• Experience with non-viral transfection methods preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate as core bench scientist in screening funnel, validating binders for engineered T-cell responses.
• Deliver genetic material via non-viral transfection and monitor cell viability.
• Perform high-throughput screening and monitor primary T cells and Jurkat lines with aseptic technique.
• Conduct multi-color flow cytometry to assess surface markers and function.
• Document procedures and present data-driven updates weekly.

Skills

Bench work

Flow cytometry

Non-viral transfection

Aseptic technique

T-cell biology

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Immunology/Molecular Biology/Bioengineering

Tools

Flow cytometer

FlowJo

Electroporation platform

Job description

Wet Lab Scientist ROCGJP00043363

• Hourly pay: $45/hr
• Worksite: Leading biotechnology company (San Diego, CA 92111- Onsite)
• W2 Employment, Group Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement Savings Program, PSL
• 40 hours/week, 8 Month Assignment

A leading biotechnology company seeks a Wet Lab Scientist to execute bench-level assays in a binder screening campaign to identify and validate novel therapeutic candidates for T-cell-based therapies.

Wet Lab Scientist Responsibilities:

• Serve as a core bench operator in the screening funnel, moving candidates from binder discovery to functional validation and characterizing the potency, specificity, and safety of candidate binders, such as scFvs or VHHs, within engineered T-cell responses.
• Perform non-viral engineering of primary human T cells by delivering genetic material, such as mRNA or transposon-based DNA systems, through electroporation or nucleofection platforms, and monitor cell viability and recovery to ensure high-efficiency synthetic receptor expression before functional testing.
• Execute high-throughput screening assays to assess binder affinity and functionality, maintain and expand primary human T cells and Jurkat cell lines using aseptic technique, and perform multi-color flow cytometry to evaluate surface expression and phenotypic markers, analyzing data in FlowJo.
• Run functional T-cell activation assays, including cytotoxicity assays (IncuCyte live-cell imaging or LDH release), cytokine profiling (ELISA, MSD, or Luminex), and proliferation tracking with dyes such as CFSE.
• Record all experimental procedures, protocol deviations, and raw data in an Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) to ensure data integrity for regulatory filings, and present clear, data-driven updates in weekly campaign sprint meetings.

Wet Lab Scientist Qualifications:

• 2+ years of hands-on wet lab experience, preferably within an industry setting.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related biological science.
• Mastery of aseptic technique and experience isolating primary T cells from PBMCs.
• Expertise in flow cytometry acquisition and analysis.
• Direct experience with non-viral transfection methods is preferred.
• Experience using liquid-handling robotics to scale screening efforts is preferred.

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