Research Associate II, Cell and Gene Therapy

Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview:

Mucommune, LLC is an integrated biotechnology company that builds on nearly a decade of pioneering R&D on mucosal  immunotherapeutics. It has a unique R&D model that matures platform technologies and advances them to clinical-stage assets via spinoffs, such as Inhalon Biopharma, a clinical-stage biotech that has raised nearly $60M to date. Leveraging its strong scientific foundation, Mucommune has expanded its R&D efforts to develop in vivo engineered immune cell therapies, which is supported in part by an ARPA-H award of up to $29.4M, along with several other federal grants. Our mission is to translate our innovative immunoengineering approaches into transformative therapeutic platforms that address significant unmet medical needs while simultaneously reducing costs and access barriers. You will join a talented, dynamic multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers developing next-generation in vivo engineered CAR-T therapies. 

Job Category: Product Development, Engineering, Research and Development 

Compensation:  Salary and benefits commensurate with education and experience 

Job Location: Morrisville, NC 27560 

Position Summary:

The Lab Research Associate II will support research activities advancing Mucommune’s in vivo CAR-T cell therapy programs. This role will focus on performing laboratory experiments, generating and analyzing data, and supporting the development and characterization of lentiviral vector-based gene therapy products. Responsibilities will include supporting the design, generation, and evaluation of lentiviral vector constructs; performing analytical assays to characterize product attributes; assisting with the generation and interpretation of pre-clinical data packages; and optimizing in-house research workflows to advance in vivo CAR-T therapy development Responsibilities will include supporting the design, generation, and evaluation of lentiviral vector constructs; performing analytical assays to characterize product attributes; assisting with the generation and interpretation of pre-clinical data packages; and optimizing in-house research workflows to advance in vivo CAR-T therapy development.  The successful candidate will be hands-on in the laboratory and will contribute to internal and external research activities through careful execution of experiments, accurate documentation, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to support program goals. 

Job Responsibilities 

• Perform laboratory experiments supporting the development and characterization of lentiviral vectors for T-cell reprogramming applications 
• Execute and document experiments involving mammalian cell culture, immune cell culture, cancer cell culture, genetic engineering, and biochemical or cell-based assays 
• Support upstream and downstream process development activities for viral vector manufacturing, including studies conducted internally and with external partners 
• Perform analytical assays to characterize the physical, genomic, and functional properties of viral vectors and engineered cells 
• Support studies conducted with contract research organizations (CROs), academic collaborators, and external partners, including activities related to vector production, purification, and preclinical research 
• Analyze experimental data, prepare summaries, and communicate results to support project decision-making and technical documentation 
• Contributes to the preparation and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), protocols, and other laboratory documentation 
• Support general laboratory operations, including reagent preparation and sourcing, inventory management, equipment maintenance, and compliance with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) requirements 

Qualifications 

Education and Experience  

• Bachelor’s degree in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, biotechnology, or related discipline 
• 2–3 years of relevant laboratory experience in an academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or translational research environment 

Technical Skills 

• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique 
• Experience with molecular biology and biochemical techniques, including PCR, ELISA, Western blotting, gel electrophoresis 
• Experience with flow cytometry desired but not required 
• Experience performing and troubleshooting cell-based assays 
• Familiarity with genetic engineering techniques and viral vector-based workflows is preferred 
• Experience with lentiviral vector production, characterization, or purification is a plus 
• Experience with data analysis, experimental documentation, and maintaining accurate laboratory records 

Other Requirements 

• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established protocols while contributing to process improvements 
• Ability to manage multiple experimental activities and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced research environment 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Adaptable, proactive, and committed to maintaining high-quality scientific and professional standards 
• Demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, developing new scientific approaches, and expanding technical expertise to address emerging challenge is highly valued.