Postgraduate in Research Cell Lines and Protein Mass Spectrometry

Set-up workflow to extract and purify recombinantly expressed membrane proteins.Biologics Research Center (BRC) is responsible to create new Biologics entities ranging from monoclonal antibodies to AAV molecules, and to ensure their fitness to requirements that a drug must fulfill.

The goal of this project is to set up a QC package to confirm integrity of recombinantly expressed membrane proteins in research cell lines used for binder discovery.

Current cell line QC is based on detection using commercially available antibodies or detection of a fused tag to the extracellular terminus in FACS. Disadvantage is that tags added to the ECD can influence folding and thereby influence binder selection during screening of hits. Binding of commercial antibodies in FACS, for which information of the exact epitope sequence and specificity are often lacking, might miss potential clipping of parts of the ECD not being part of the epitope of the commercial antibody. Clipped ECDs, especially if going completely unnoticed, affect discovery campaigns and screening of binders.

Major accountabilities:

• Generate research cell lines expressing membrane proteins with tags on the intracellular domain.
• Confirm expression by FACS and/or Western Blot.
• Set-up analyses by mass spectrometry to enable confirmation of the intact ECD sequence, either at the intact level (+/- N-/O-deglycosylation) or at the peptide level.
• Collecting, analyzing and processing of data, result interpretation, preparation of summary documents and reports as well as presenting data at internal meetings.
• Document experiments using electronic lab book

Minimum Requirements:
Work Experience:

• Practical experience in cell culture, membrane protein extraction and purification as well as characterization of proteins, especially with mass spectrometry would be of benefit.
• Diligent and accurate working style, as well as communication and organizational skills are required.
• Good knowledge of laboratory, technical & computational tools.
• Ability to be a self-motivated team player able to thrive in a dynamic matrixed working environment.

Skills:

• Recent Master graduate (up to 6 months) MSc with a degree in Biotechnology, Biology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Analytical chemistry or similar NA.

Languages :

• Proficiency in English (oral and written), German and/or French would be helpful.

Accessibility and accommodation:

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to diversity.inclusion_ch@novartis.com, and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.