Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established research-led University known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government an
d commerce. Professor Dame Julia King became Vice-Chancellor of the University in 2006. Aston University is a long established research led University based in the heart of Birmingham known for its world- class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce. Its mission is to be the UK’s leading University for business, enterprise and the professions, where original research has a positive impact on the world around.
Job Title: Cell Scientist (KTP Associate)
Reference code: R150335
Company Profile : Biovault Technical Ltd (BTL) is the UK’s largest private tissue bank providing both tissues and cells to the NHS and strategic private partners around the world as the basis for treatment of injuries/ conditions (such as blood cancers).
Job location: Aston, UK
Salary: £26,000 to £30,000 plus £5,000 Individual Training Budget
Contract Type: Fixed Term (30 months)
Job description:
This project takes the form of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP),which provides extensive practical and formal training and the availability of support from experienced mentors from Biovault
Technical Ltd (BTL), Aston University and Innovate UK. BTL has joined forces with Aston University on this KTP project to establish a safe, robust, repeatable end-to-end process to produce stem cells for therapeutic use.
This project takes the form of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP),which provides extensive practical and formal training and the availability of support from experienced mentors from Biovault
Technical Ltd (BTL), Aston University and Innovate UK. BTL has joined forces with Aston University on this KTP project to establish a safe, robust, repeatable end-to-end process to produce stem cells for therapeutic use.
The candidate will be employed by Aston University working under the supervision of Dr Qasim Rafiq, Lecturer in Bioprocess Engineering and will be based at the company, BLT, under the supervision of Mr Shaun Mansfield, Stem Cell Scientist. The candidate will also spend part of the project within Aston’s laboratories.This project will provide significant exposure to all levels of the BTL business and the opportunity to visit relevant clinical partner sites in the UK and abroad. As the project lead, the positionholder will be at the forefront of designing and implementing changes and will have the opportunity to shadow key staff including the CEO and Technical Director.
The position holder will also benefit from the world leading research environment provided by Aston University and will be fundamentally involved in the delivery and dissemination of research outputs via publication of papers in peer reviewed journals and presentations at key national and international conferences.During this project, the candidate will develop a greater understanding of Quality by Design principles for therapeutic manufacture in addition to learning techniques for the isolation of stem cells from primary human tissue and expansion of these cells for clinical purposes.
The position holder will also benefit from the world leading research environment provided by Aston University and will be fundamentally involved in the delivery and dissemination of research outputs via publication of papers in peer reviewed journals and presentations at key national and international conferences.During this project, the candidate will develop a greater understanding of Quality by Design principles for therapeutic manufacture in addition to learning techniques for the isolation of stem cells from primary human tissue and expansion of these cells for clinical purposes.
The candidate will also develop a greater awareness of current Good Manufacturing Practice
(cGMP) as required by health regulators as well as a strong understanding of the commercial and regulatory implications of their work. As a KTP Associate on this project, the candidate will have a generous personal development budget of £5000 in addition to a KTP Management Training Programme. As part of personal development plan the postholder will be encouraged to work
towards professional status for relevant discipline (i.e. Chartered Engineer or Biologist).
(cGMP) as required by health regulators as well as a strong understanding of the commercial and regulatory implications of their work. As a KTP Associate on this project, the candidate will have a generous personal development budget of £5000 in addition to a KTP Management Training Programme. As part of personal development plan the postholder will be encouraged to work
towards professional status for relevant discipline (i.e. Chartered Engineer or Biologist).
The personal development budget and support available from both Aston University and BTL will ensure development of a professional development programme aligned with the project (i.e. Lean Six Sigma, PRINCE 2, ILM 3) giving enhanced career opportunities. On completion of the KTP the experience gained in the application and regulation of Human Tissue could allow the candidate to
pursue becoming a Designated Individual at an HTA accredited facility/stakeholders the postholder will work with.
pursue becoming a Designated Individual at an HTA accredited facility/stakeholders the postholder will work with.
Key Responsibilities:
- Confirm ethical requirements for project and put processes in place for future studies.
- Review BTL’s IP position.
- Investigate isolation procedures and sources of variability and optimal form and condition prior to expansion.
- Develop an end to end microcarrier expansion for an allogeneic UCT-hMSC product with a focus on achieving maximum cell density.
- Develop an end to end microcarrier expansion process for an autologous UCT-hMSC product.
- Transfer of bioprocess from academic laboratory to BTL including conducting the necessary validation studies.
- Finalise standard procedures and update operational and quality manuals.
- Complete final project reports and technical publications.
Essential education and qualifications:
- A PhD in a relevant area (i.e. biochemical engineering, biomedical engineering) or relevant Life Science discipline (stem Cell Biology, biomedical science).
- A strong understanding of both the engineering aspects of cell therapy production in addition to the fundamental Cell Biology underpinning this work.
Experience:
Desirable
Experience of working with multiple cell types (including human embryonic stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cells).
Essential
- Significant experience/expertise with aseptic manual cell culture and experience of working with human cells.
- Strong understanding and experience of key analytical techniques including microscopy, lowCytometry, immunofluorescence, histology, differentiation staining, functionality assays, metabolic flux analysis and methods to determine growth kinetics.
- Experience of research methods for the engineering & life sciences including principles of Quality by Design (QbD) and Design of Experiments (DoE).
- Significant experience of software including Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and flow Cytometrysoftware. e.g. FlowJo
Aptitude and skills
- Excellent organisation, planning and project management skills.
- Demonstrate previous work and delivery in a laboratory environment.
- Proactive with a willingness and aptitude to take ownership of all aspects of the project (including administration
, communication, budgeting etc.) - Flexibility and willingness to work out of hours or on the weekends as necessary (the work will be dictated by the cells which may require activities such as sampling, or subculture of the cells out of normal working hours)
- Ability to proactively continually review and improve processes to reduce costs and deliver sustained value to the business.
- Professionalism and adherence to company and university codes of conduct.
- Willingness to travel as required.
How to apply and the selection process:
For further information on the vacancy , please visit the website aston.ac.uk/jobs and apply online. In case of no internet access, call 0121 204 4500 and leave your name and address quoting the job title and reference number.
For further information on the vacancy , please visit the website aston.ac.uk/jobs and apply online. In case of no internet access, call 0121 204 4500 and leave your name and address quoting the job title and reference number.
Please contact Dr Qasim Rafiq, Lecturer in the School of Life & Health Sciences, for an informal discussion about the role. Tel: +44(0) 121 204 4895, Email: q.rafiq@aston.ac.uk
Closing date for applications: 3rd January, 2016.
clikc here original notification:http://jobs.aston.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=R150335
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