Role and Purpose:

Novel Biotechnology Inc. has an opening for a Research Associate to join our growing R&D team in Winnipeg, MB working on a wide range of product development programs including the platform technology for manufacturing pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical products. The individual will have a diverse set of molecular biology and genetic engineering skills with significant experience in PCR based molecular cloning, PCR based recombination techniques, nucleic acid recombinant DNA technologies, analytical method development, next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, site-directed mutagenesis, RNA or protein synthesis, DNA and viral vector design and engineering. The individual must be comfortable with yeast or bacterial cloning, manipulating primary & immortalized mammalian cell-lines, genetic modification of cells and perform wide range of cell-based assays (if required). The successful candidate must be adaptable, work well with people from a diverse interdisciplinary background, and able to multi-task with excellent critical thinking with attention to detail and a track record of successful research contribution or significant industrial R&D research will be an asset.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform routine repetitive operations related to manufacturing nucleic acids and associated compendial and non-compendial analytical testing
• Contribute to a wide range of product development programs including gene editing, cell engineering, nucleic acid and protein manufacturing platforms developed by Novel Biotechnology Inc.
• Support Scientist in establishing new techniques in-house, perform routine iterative operations supporting internal and external collaborations
• Responsible for designing and conducting experiments with input from the assigned supervisor
• Collect and analyze experimental data, present data at meetings, provide conclusions and outline future work plans
• Troubleshoot experiments and identify abnormal or unexpected trends in data
• Support all technical documentation related to projects and product development
• Perform task supporting contract research and contract manufacturing when required
• Provide technical support to staff and customers (product use, protocols) as needed
• Set up, calibrate and perform routine maintenance on specialized laboratory equipment
• Ensure that the necessary laboratory supplies are available and perform tasks related to supporting the operation of the laboratory
• May be required to perform other related duties as needed or assigned

Minimum Level of Education:

• Recent MSc in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• BSc in the Life Sciences (e.g. Molecular biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences) with significant laboratory experience may be considered

Qualifications/trainings Required: (e.g. certificates of specific training) 

• NA

Prior Experience Required: (e.g. years or managing people)

• Recent 1- 3 years of hands-on lab-based experience in a Molecular Biology laboratory
• Experience working in pharma or biotech industry would be advantageous

Technical Skills Required: (e.g. computer skills, ability to use specific equipment)

• Ability to independently design, conduct, analyze and troubleshoot experiments
• Experience in developing DNA based expression vectors for mRNA and protein synthesis
• Experience in working with both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• Experience with a wide-range of laboratory techniques including flow-cytometry, live-cell imaging, electroporation, ELISA, gel electrophoresis, qPCR, etc.
• Experience in working with nucleic acids (e.g. plasmid DNA, mRNA, siRNA)
• Sound understanding of genetic & epigenetic mechanism of prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic gene expression
• Experience with FPLC and bioinformatic software tools as well as statistical analyses of experimental data is an asset

Skills and Competencies Required: (e.g. analytical and reporting skills, communication, teamwork, problem solving, etc.)

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) both in one-on-one and in a group setting with the ability to organize and present technical summaries of scientific data
• The individual must be a team player who thrives in a dynamic environment with multiple tasks and aggressive deadlines
• Must be a resourceful, proactive, detail-oriented individual who is willing to learn and able to work with minimum supervision

Amount of Travel Required:

• Less than 10%

Other/Notes:

• NA