Position located in Rochester, MN

Responsibilities of the Scientist, Virology:

• Design, build, and characterize experimental viral platforms or constructs using molecular and cellular techniques.
• Apply various cell engineering tools to develop customized eukaryotic cell lines for production and assay development.
• Utilize molecular cloning strategies, including both standard and advanced techniques, to generate constructs for downstream applications.
• Develop and validate in vitro assays for evaluating viral particles, including functional and analytical testing.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across research and technical functions while maintaining strong autonomous project ownership..

Requirements of the Scientist, Virology:

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.S.) in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Virology, or a related field.
• Proven proficiency in molecular cloning and construct design.
• Hands-on experience with lentiviral vector systems or strong foundational skills with the ability to rapidly upskill in this area.
• Demonstrated ability to optimize workflows and improve production yields or assay performance.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Comfortable working both independently and in close-knit teams in a fast-paced lab environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with eukaryotic cell culture, including techniques such as flow cytometry, cell viability assays, and clonal selection.
• Familiarity with molecular quantification methods: qPCR, RT-PCR, ddPCR, western blotting.
• Background in virology workflows: virus generation, rescue, amplification, and characterization (e.g., plaque assays, TCID50, immunofluorescence).