Director, Cell Therapy Research

JOB PURPOSE

A successful candidate will build and lead a team to develop and utilize biologically relevant assays and model systems to advance programs in iPS T cells and other therapeutic areas. This candidate should be recognized as an industry leader in immunology and pluripotent stem cell biology with experience driving programs to the clinic. This candidate should have a deep understanding of the developmental biology of hemopoietic lineages from stem cells, especially T and B cell development. The candidate will both lead and execute Sana's in-vitro and in-vivo efforts developing next-generation cell engineering technologies to create engineered cells as medicines. Experience with trans-differentiation is a plus. This person should be a team player, fantastic at cross-functional communication, and willing to be in the lab performing experiments alongside their team members on a daily basis. We expect our scientific leaders to innovate, solve difficult problems, and thrive in a team environment.

Lead a cross-functional team to apply the Sana cell therapy platform to T cells and beyond. Bring your expertise in iPSC differentiation, stem cell biology, and stem cell phenotypic definition. Together, we can create transformational therapies.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Simultaneous culture of iPSCs with different gene modifications, their characterization and purification
  • Establish iPSC-based T cell differentiation protocols to support the discovery and characterization of therapeutic programs
  • iPSC clonal selection, culture and functional characterization (in vitro and in vivo)
  • Work and provide subject matter expertise with a cross-disciplinary team to optimize cell culture approaches
  • Pristine communication with respect to scientifically rigorous findings via verbal and written communications, visualizations, and presentations
  • Inspire his/her teammates from the bench
  • Liaise to development function and executive leadership regarding project timelines and deliverables
  • Provide strategic direction in creating patent applications
  • Create strategic partnerships that lead to collaborations through networking and publication
  • Understands and applies relevant scientific literature to the design of experimental protocols. This may include literature from outside of the Scientist's primary field of research
  • Actively contribute to the strategic direction of the department and company objectives in creative and effective ways

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in biological science or equivalent and a minimum of 10+ years of stem cell and T cell biology related experience
  • Strong track record leading teams to deliver therapeutic programs to the clinic
  • Direct experience in in vitro and in vivo cell differentiation systems and stem cell culture
  • Experience in iPSC-relevant experimental techniques, including both in vitro cellular assays and in vivo transplant models
  • Strong scientific background and publication record with proven high levels of performance
  • Excellent written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to teams with diverse scientific backgrounds
  • Ability to adapt to increasing scope and complexity of work brought on by growth/change and helps others manage through change
  • Comfortable in a fast-paced research environment with minimal direction, and able to adjust workload based upon changing priorities

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in differentiating hematopoietic stem cells from iPSC
  • Experience in immunobiology assays to study adaptive and innate immune responses in vitro and in vivo
  • Expertise in advanced genomic platforms for cell characterization
  • Experience with gene editing technologies

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Carrying, handling and reaching for objects up to 25 lbs
  • Prolonged standing and/or sitting
  • Exposure to hazardous/toxic/dangerous chemicals
  • Manual dexterity required to operate office and lab equipment