Scientist 1, Vector Engineering

About the Role

As a Scientist on the Vector Engineering / Ex Vivo Assays team, you will turn open scientific questions into actionable answers for Gordian Biotechnology. You will work directly with senior leaders to translate strategic goals into experimental plans, launching and leading projects from inception to recommendation. Your work will directly influence the selection of AAV serotypes for the new heart program and shape the company's AAV production scale-up strategy through suspension culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Design experimental plans, including controls and readouts, and anticipate potential failure modes.
• Execute laboratory work, interpret data, and make recommendations.
• Lead a serotype screen for the new heart project within the first two months.
• Own an independent project focused on moving key AAV serotypes into suspension production.
• Drive AAV production and ex vivo assays, including:
• Adherent and suspension AAV production (HEK293 culture, transfections, harvests).
• Purification by iodixanol ultracentrifugation and FPLC.
• Execution of established ex vivo assays (EVA).
• Troubleshoot production and assay failures by analyzing controls, batch records, and first principles.
• Adapt methods from the literature into Gordian's workflows and prioritize improvements.
• Coordinate with dependent teams.
• Calculate AAV requirements for programs.
• Manage media forecasting and reagent ordering.
• Maintain excellent ELN records.
• Dedicate approximately 20% of your week to improvement and discovery projects.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• PhD in molecular biology, cell biology, or a related field (or equivalent research experience).
• Strong understanding of molecular and cell biology to explain experimental choices and interpret results.
• Proficient in mammalian cell culture.
• Accurate pipetting and reliable sample handling.
• Experience learning and independently executing non-trivial laboratory protocols.
• Ability to keep complete laboratory records and traceable data with close attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage defined scientific projects from goal to conclusion, including execution, troubleshooting, and analysis.
• Skill in designing proper controls, using literature for method selection, and anticipating failure modes.
• Ability to distinguish technical failures from biological results and justify next experimental steps.
• Experience handling multiple workflows or projects simultaneously and communicating dependencies clearly.
• Experience with HEK293 culture, transfections, and harvests.
• Experience with iodixanol ultracentrifugation and FPLC.

Qualifications

• Prior AAV purification experience, especially iodixanol ultracentrifugation or FPLC, is a significant plus.
• Scientific judgment and rapid learning ability are prioritized over prior mastery of every AAV technique.
• Bonus points for relevant wet-lab experience such as qPCR, Western blot, SDS-PAGE, and transfection.
• Bonus points for experience with FPLC, TFF, depth filtration, or related flow systems.
• Bonus points for previous work with AAV, lentivirus, or gene therapy.