Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Gene Editing & Cell Therapy

At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are inspired by a single vision – transforming patients’ lives through science. In oncology, hematology, immunology and cardiovascular disease – and one of the most diverse and promising pipelines in the industry – each of our passionate colleagues contribute to innovations that drive meaningful change. We bring a human touch to every treatment we pioneer. Join us and make a difference.

The Immuno-Oncology and Cellular Therapy Thematic Research Center is one of the fundamental research and early development engines delivering therapeutics to patients. Our mission is to drive leadership in the use of immune effector cell-based therapies in hematological and solid cancers. More specifically, we are focused on developing engineered cell-based therapies, as well as biotherapeutics, both aimed at harnessing the power of immune cells to mediate anti-tumor activity. The team integrates discovery research seamlessly with preclinical sciences, translational research and early clinical development in collaboration with colleagues across the Research and Development organization. Our thematic focus allows the group to capitalize on the cutting edge science that underpins the action of many of the company’s most innovative therapeutics, without being constrained by drug modality or disease indication.

The Cell Therapy & Gene Editing Team is seeking a highly motivated, dynamic and self-driven individual to help us deliver on this critical goal and contribute to the development of our internal gene-edited cell therapy programs. The Scientist/Sr. Scientist role will be focused on designing and validating novel engineering strategies for our next-generation CAR/eTCR T products as well as to expand our internal gene editing capabilities and develop/validate downstream in vitro functional assays for edited human and mouse T cells. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of T cell biology, a solid grasp on gene editing techniques and a strong background in technology development. This role will provide a challenging but rewarding opportunity for career development in a fast-paced environment and is ideal for a scientist with an innovative cell engineering mindset. A previous experience in cellular therapy, industry or academic, is preferred.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work to develop and improve gene editing protocols and reagents (including repair template design for homology directed repair) for single and multiplexed gene editing applications.

• Work with other team members to develop and evaluate technical feasibility of novel gene editing delivery methods.

• Closely collaborate with the pharmacology and discovery teams to implement innovative gene-editing based screening methods and to support implementation of gene editing in mouse models.

• Set up and run assays to evaluate levels of gene editing in primary human and mouse T cell products.

• Culture gene-edited primary human or mouse T cells and test their functionality and specificity thru a variety of immunological assays.

• Spend most of the time in the lab, keep very detailed notes on experiments and update the group on lab progress.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. with at least 2 years of work experience, preferred. Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline with at least 10 years work experience or Master’s degree with at least 8 years work experience in relevant field of research (cellular therapy, molecular biology, immunology, genome engineering or a related discipline).

• Hands-on experience with gene editing technologies (CRISPR/Cas9 preferred), for both knock-out (gRNA design, RNP formulation, Indel measurement, etc…) and knock-in (expertise in repair template design) applications using viral and non-viral delivery mechanisms in human cell lines and primary cells.

• Relevant skills include experience in immunological techniques (flow cytometry, intracellular staining, cytotoxicity assays, ELISA, etc.) and molecular biology techniques (cloning, PCR, RT-PCR, mRNA and DNA prep).

• Experience with assay development, qualification, and validation.

• Ability to multitask, independently organize time, and plan specifics of work.

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills demonstrated in a team environment.

• Willingness to think outside the box, be creative and ability to work in a very fast paced, ever changing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• NextGen sequencing or single cell molecular analysis.

• Prior experience with panel design for multi-color flow cytometry and downstream data processing/analysis, a plus.

• Prior experience applying gene editing techniques to adoptive engineered T-cell therapeutics of human or mouse origin (CAR-T or eTCR).

Around the world, we are passionate about making an impact on the lives of patients with serious diseases. Empowered to apply our individual talents and diverse perspectives in an inclusive culture, our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives.

Physical presence at the BMS worksite or physical presence in the field is an essential job function of this role which the Company deems critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, employee well-being and engagement, and enhances the Company culture.

To protect the safety of our workforce, customers, patients and communities, the policy of the Company requires all employees and workers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have received an exception based on an approved request for a medical or religious reasonable accommodation. Therefore, all BMS applicants seeking a role located in the U.S. and Puerto Rico must confirm that they have already received or are willing to receive the full COVID-19 vaccination by their start date as a qualification of the role and condition of employment. This requirement is subject to state and local law restrictions and may not be applicable to employees working in certain jurisdictions such as Montana. This requirement is also subject to discussions with collective bargaining representatives in the U.S.

Our company is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request an approval of accommodation prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application or if you are applying to a role based in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and you believe that you are unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief, during or any part of the recruitment process, please direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

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