Scientist I/Scientist II, T Cell Immunology (San Diego)

Scientist I/Scientist II, T Cell Immunology

About Avalon BioVentures:

Avalon BioVentures is a biotech venture capital firm that builds on Avalon’s 40-year success in pursuing disruptive ideas to improve life. From its established offices and labs on the Torrey Pines Mesa, in La Jolla, California, Avalon BioVentures leverages its Accelerator, which provides operational infrastructure and support, and the team’s extensive experience to identify promising science, build agile companies, and advance breakthrough therapeutics.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Human T Cell Immunologist to join our team in the development of cutting-edge Regulatory T cell therapies. This role is 100% lab based and will involve researching and advancing innovative therapeutic approaches utilizing regulatory T cells to treat inflammatory diseases, with initial focus in respiratory indications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in immunology, cellular biology, therapeutics discovery, recombinant DNA methodologies including familiarity with viral expression vectors, and a working knowledge of human T cell biology.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct cutting-edge research to understand the biology of regulatory T cells (Tregs), their function, and therapeutic potential.
• Develop and optimize protocols for isolating, expanding, and modifying Tregs ex vivo for therapeutic applications using viral and non-viral modification.
• Investigate the mechanisms by which Tregs interact with other immune cells and tissues to modulate immune responses.
• Study the effects of engineered Tregs in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models and assess their safety, efficacy, and biological activity.
• Analyze immune cell profiles, cytokine production, and T cell tissue homing and function, to optimize T cell-based therapies.
• Conduct immune cell characterization using flow cytometry, ELISA, PCR, RNAseq, and other relevant techniques.
• Contribute to the generation of data for regulatory filings, research publications, and presentations to senior management.
• Stay updated on the latest developments in regulatory T cell biology, cellular therapies, and immunotherapy research to inform product development strategies.
• Analyze experimental data using bioinformatics tools and statistical methods to assess the effectiveness of Treg therapies.
• Maintain detailed records of experiments, including data analysis and results, in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).
• Communicate research findings to internal stakeholders, including senior management, and external collaborators.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Cell Biology, Cellular Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field or MS plus 6-8+ years’ industry experience; experience in T cell biology or T cell immunotherapy is highly desirable plus 1-5+ years lab experience
• Strong foundation in human T cell immunology, with a demonstrated understanding of T cell biology, subsets, and function; working knowledge of regulatory T cell biology with a focus on therapeutic development is highly desirable.
• Hands-on experience with primary human immune cell isolation, activation, culture, and expansion, performed under aseptic conditions
• Demonstrated experience building and running >10-color flow cytometry panels, including panel design, compensation/spectral setup, and data analysis (e.g., FlowJo, Cell Engine).
• Experience in T cell functional characterization assay development— cytokine secretion, proliferation, activation, and/or Treg suppression assays.
• Experience with T cell engineering via viral and/or non-viral gene delivery and gene editing (e.g., lentivirus, CRISPR), including familiarity with recombinant DNA methods and viral expression vectors
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Proficiency in data analysis software and ELN systems (e.g., GraphPad, Benchling).
• Passion for developing next-generation therapies with a focus on immune modulation.
• Strong organizational, scientific, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong background in regulatory T cell biology and T cell therapy.
• Hands-on experience in regulatory T cell isolation, activation, expansion, and engineering
• R&D-level process development experience contributing to the development of a T cell therapy (or comparable cell therapy) product.
• Working knowledge of GMP-suitable technologies and experience scaling processes from small-scale to large-scale, including closed/automated expansion and cell-processing platforms (e.g., G-Rex, rocking-motion bioreactors, Lovo, and automated cell isolation systems).
• Exposure to phase-appropriate assay qualification, analytical development, and regulatory requirements for cell-based therapies.

Job Type:

• Full-time

Salary:

$115,000-150,000

Compensation:

In addition to a competitive compensation package with stock options, the company also offers a comprehensive benefits package for our employees and their families, which includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental disability insurance.

The above description is intended to describe the general nature of the job and may include other duties as assumed or assigned; it is not intended to be all inclusive or limit the duties of the position.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus pay