Research Assistant, Quality Control (QC)

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge

Type: Full time, permanent 

Start: Immediate / Hours: 40 hrs per week

Lab based position

This role does not meet the minimum salary requirements for UK skilled worker sponsorship. Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK or must not require sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa.

Your role in our team:

Reporting to the Principal Scientist (AD/QC), the Research Assistant, Quality Control (QC) is responsible for assisting with batch release testing of a wide range of iPSC-derived cell types, together with the optimisation and development of new test methods to improve efficiency and deliver operational excellence.

The Research Assistant, QC will work cross-functionally with teams across bit.bio to help deliver a quality product to market as well as contribute to the continuous development of the QC team, the laboratory environment and overall objectives of bit.bio.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Perform QC release testing of final product for all cell types in the growing bit.bio ioCells portfolio to ensure our products are of the highest quality standard to meet customer needs.
• Prioritise and manage multiple workflows effectively to ensure consistent output and adherence to expected QC turnaround times.
• Collate and evaluate data generated to ensure QC requirements are met.
• Follow Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) to ensure testing details are fully documented, traceable, accurate, timely, and followed to the highest standards.
• Follow Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) to ensure lab equipment are maintained, and traceable, within documentation.
• Support the optimisation and development of QC release test methods for ioCells and explore opportunities to evaluate new technologies for use in the QC environment, as required. 
• Support continuous improvement of QC practices including establishing and improving electronic lab notebook (ELN) templates, supporting data trending, and performing root cause analysis to identify testing issues and appropriate corrective actions.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of key QC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and testing protocols to ensure they remain current and reflective of best practice.
• Support the tech transfer of new cell types entering QC from Product Development including training on new techniques, as required.

You…

• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field of biological sciences (or equivalent).
• Have practical laboratory experience in human iPSC cell culture (and/or differentiation) and aseptic technique.
• Have practical laboratory experience with molecular biology techniques including qPCR. 
• Are detail oriented and experienced in working to SOPs.
• Are a passionate team player with excellent organisational and communication skills.

…and possibly…

• Experience in a QC laboratory and/or working in a cGMP or GLP environment.
• Have practical experience and knowledge of relevant test methods including immunocytochemistry (ICC), flow cytometry and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).
• Experience qualifying methods to ICH guidelines.
• Experience of CAPA, LEAN, Six-Sigma, 5S and/or other systems for optimisation and improvement of laboratory processes.