Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc. (AKBA) provides pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers with a comprehensive suite of tools to maximize safety and improve yields of biotherapeutics during research, clinical and commercial-scale production. Planova™ virus-removal filters anchor a diverse product portfolio defined by quality, consistency and scalability. Additional areas of expertise include liquid chromatography, inline buffer dilution and oligonucleotide synthesis.
We are a growing team (140+) of professionals excited about what we do and our ability to impact healthcare delivery systems worldwide. We offer a “big company” benefits package and a “small company” culture and work environment. Every employee at Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America can impact our future.

As an Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America employee, you will enjoy:

• Strong company culture
• Competitive Compensation with Bonuses
• Great health benefits with the company paying over 80% of insurance premiums
• Wellness Program
• Paid Time Off
• Strong company match to 401(k) contributions
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Giving Program
• Paid Parental Leave

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are currently looking for a Research Associate I to join our team at AKBA! The individual in this role will support laboratory research and development activities related to virus filtration and other downstream bioprocessing operations. This entry-level role is ideal for recent graduates or professionals with limited experience, providing hands-on experience with biological assays, lab instrumentation and data collection and analysis. This individual will work under the direct supervision of more senior scientists and will be responsible for clearly communicating with internal and external stakeholders as well as following company and lab procedures and SOPs

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• BS/BA in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemical or Biochemical Engineering or similar scientific discipline and 1-3 years of hands-on laboratory in biotech experience in biotech or pharma.
• Ability to work in a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory is required.
• Good communication skills and the ability to present results and recommendations to external customers and internal management is required.
• Work experience in biopharmaceutical process development or manufacturing sciences is a plus.
• Experience with viral clearance or virus filtration is a plus.

• Experimental:
• Participate, under manager supervision, in the implementation, and documentation of experimental projects to develop and study bioprocess filtration and chromatography operations with a focus on viral clearance and pathogen safety.
• Author technical reports and presentations to document findings for internal and external distribution.
• Support studies in the Non-GLP Virus Lab by executing filtrations and assays in coordination with other Virus Lab operators and assisting with cell culture as needed.
• Follow all quality procedures and business and safety practices.
• Contribute to the development of new procedures to ensure continuous quality and safety improvement.
• Assist in maintenance of the laboratory, including maintaining safety and 5S standards, and oversight and maintenance of equipment calibration.
• External:
• Interact and establish relationships with customers in the biopharmaceutical industry by attending and giving presentations at industry conferences and customer sites.
• Travel to customer sites, conferences, training courses, and company meetings (approximately 5%).
• Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
• Attend and contribute to regular group meetings and journal club meetings and provide monthly project update reports.
• Beginner understanding of bioprocess unit operations, including mechanisms, validation strategies, and regulatory considerations.
• Beginner understanding of industry trends in biologics process development and manufacturing operations.