Senior Research Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Senior Research Associate :

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Cell Culture Expert with 2–4 years of experience to join our Preclinical Oncology team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the establishment, maintenance, and characterization of various tumor cell lines to support in vivo oncology studies. This role requires expertise in sterile technique, and meticulous record-keeping, directly contributing to the development of In vivo tumor models used to screen the efficacy of novel cancer therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities :

Cell Culture Maintenance and Expansion :

a. Maintain and expand a diverse panel of human and murine cancer cell lines (adherent and suspension) under strict aseptic conditions.

b. Perform routine media preparation, cryopreservation, and revival of cell stocks.

c. Routinely test cell lines for mycoplasma contamination and verify cell line identity via methods like Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling.

d. Design, optimize, and execute standard cell-based assays relevant to oncology.

Data Analysis and Reporting :

a. Accurately record all experimental procedures, observations, and results in an electronic lab notebook (ELN).

b. Analyze, interpret, and present experimental data to the project team in a clear and concise manner.

c. Contribute to the drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and technical reports.

Laboratory Management :

a. Manage and track inventory of cell culture reagents and consumables.

b. Ensure all lab work is conducted in compliance with internal safety guidelines and laboratory practices.

c. Perform routine maintenance and calibration of cell culture equipment (e.g., incubators, biosafety cabinets, centrifuges).

Qualifications Required :

Education : Bachelor's or master’s degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Oncology, or a related life science field.

Experience :

2–4 years of hands-on experience in a research laboratory setting, specifically with mammalian cell culture, ideally in the context of preclinical oncology research.

Technical Skills :

a. Exceptional expertise in sterile technique and aseptic cell culture manipulation.

b. Ability to culture cells at a large scale (800M to 1000M)

c. Proficiency with standard cell counting and viability assessment methods.

d. Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot cell culture challenges and assay variability.

e. Experience with basic molecular biology techniques (e.g., western blotting, ELISA) is highly desirable.

Soft Skills : Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a fast-paced team environment. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Skills :

Experience with viral transduction (e.g., lentivirus, retrovirus) for genetic modification of cell lines.

Establish and maintain primary tumor cell cultures and / or patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cell lines from tumor tissue.

Experience in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) or GLP-compliant environment.

Note : “Aragen provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, colour, national origin, citizenship status or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and / or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable legislation or local law. In addition, Aragen will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities”.