Join Our Team
Research Associate/Senior Research Associate, Analytical Development (Cell Therapy)
Bedford, MA
About Us…
Obsidian Therapeutics is pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies to deliver transformative outcomes for patients. Obsidian’s programs apply our CytoDriveTM technology in Cell and Gene therapy products to control expression of proteins for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and safety. Obsidian’s lead program is currently in preclinical development for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma and other solid tumors.
We’re proud of our diverse talented team and committed to cultivating an environment of inclusion where each person feels a strong sense of belonging and is supported to continuously learn and contribute their best work. Our research team is based in the heart of Cambridge, MA, and our Technical Development and Manufacturing is in a new facility in Bedford, MA to support our growth. Obsidianites enjoy a highly collaborative culture, competitive salary and benefits, and potential for ownership through stock options.
Our Opportunity…
Our Analytical Development team is growing, and we’re looking for a highly motivated, rigorous, and curious scientist to join our team. In this role, you’ll focus on characterizing engineered cell therapy products and supporting Obsidian’s tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and viral vector assay development. Based in our Bedford, MA location, you’ll be exposed to a wide variety of techniques and work with various subject matter experts across different functional groups, affording a significant learning opportunity and career development.
As part of our Technical Development and Manufacturing group you’ll be a vital part of a highly collaborative team working to achieve Obsidian’s vision by translating innovative science into medical breakthroughs for patients, starting with our lead program OBX-115 engineered to make TILs (Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) more effective for more patients.
This is a unique opportunity to be a contributor in a well-funded clinical company with blue chip investors, field-leading advisors, best-in-class partners, and an experienced team. You'll help us build a dynamic, innovative, passionate, collaborative, and successful organization focused on delivering transformative therapies in areas of greatest clinical need.
You Will…
- Assist in designing, developing, and prequalifying new cell-based assays to characterize TIL products and critical materials.
- Perform a variety of biological assays to support TIL product characterization using methods such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, qPCR/ddPCR, and cell-based assays.
- Execute carefully planned bench and cell culture experiments, troubleshoot assays, analyze data, communicate findings and present results at internal meetings.
- Maintain excellent and timely records of experiments in an Electronic Notebook (ELN)
- Make intellectual and technical contributions to projects.
- Maintain a safe work environment in accordance with policies, procedures, and regulations.
You Bring…
Core Qualifications
- BS or MS degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biotechnology or related field.
- Hands on experience with aseptic culture of cell lines or primary cells.
- Working experience with flow cytometry or cell-based assays (e.g., viability, cytotoxicity, persistence, signaling, transfection/transduction).
- Scientific rigor and attention-to-detail in the execution, analysis, and troubleshooting of experiments.
- Strong record-keeping and organizational skills, including an ability to manage multiple responsibilities in parallel.
- Scientific curiosity and a track record of self-directed learning.
- A highly collaborative working style. You build trusting relationships, invite and share ideas and feedback, productively challenge your own and others’ assumptions to generate new ideas and facilitate better outcomes.
- Flexibility; a willingness and ability to adapt to changes in priorities in a fast-paced, rapidly developing environment to advance our mission.
- Self-motivation and a proven ability to work with general direction, exercise good judgement, and seek the information and support you need to meet objectives and timelines.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience in Analytical Development, including method development and qualification.
- Experience working with engineered primary human immune cells.
- Experience with record-keeping in ELN format.
- Familiarity with data analysis tools like MS-Excel, GraphPad Prism, Flowjo.
Job level will be based on overall experience and capabilities.
Obsidian is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, cultivating a welcoming and diverse environment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.