Scientist I

Blue Lake Biotechnology is a private intranasal vaccine company enlisting the full force of the immune system to keep people healthy, prevent serious infectious diseases, and save the lives of vulnerable populations. We aspire to transform the healthcare landscape and create a healthier world with better vaccines for all ages that are painless, easy, and effective. Our PIV5-vectored Covid-19 vaccine and RSV vaccine are in phase 2 clinical trials.

We make the most of our team members’ skills and passion by actively supporting our employees to achieve their career goals with us. We also offer a competitive compensation package, benefits and perks.

Scientist I

Work Location: In person, Athens Georgia

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt

This role reports to a more senior Scientist or manager and is responsible for designing, executing, and interpreting experiments with a high level of technical discretion. The Scientist will develop new methods, technologies, and processes when necessary to advance research projects independently. This role involves both independent research and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities 

What this role will achieve (goals): 

• Design and execute complex experiments with significant technical discretion, pursuing new directions based on experimental outcomes. 
• Develop new methods, technologies, and processes to advance company’s pipeline. 
• Contribute to generating/charactering vaccine candidates, conducting preclinical studies, clinical sample testing and IND filings. 
• Actively collaborate with internal or external stakeholders to design, perform experiments, and analyze experimental data in alignment with project goals. 
• Develop novel solutions to technical problems and investigate innovative processes, hypotheses, and methods that add value to work plans. 
• Create scientific presentations, effectively conveying complex scientific concepts within their knowledge area. 

What does success look like (metrics)? 

• Successful development and implementation of innovative experimental techniques – optimizing up and downstream processing.
• Timely execution of high-quality research that significantly contributes to vaccine candidate development and regulatory submissions. 
• Strong collaboration with internal and external teams, establishing credibility and fostering innovation. 
• Work independently with minimal supervision, lead projects, and coordinate efforts within the team to meet objectives on time. 
• Contribute to scientific and technical documents, including patents and scientific publications. 
• Write journal-quality technical documentation and contribute effectively to patent claims. 

The Requirements 

Soft or Technical Skills needed: 

• Expertise in viral vector purification techniques such as tangential flow filtration (TFF), chromatography, and centrifugation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize both production and purification processes.
• Strong written skills for producing high-quality scientific documentation and patent contributions. 
• Effective presentation skills to convey complex scientific concepts and coach others in creating scientific presentations. 

Work experience needed: 

• 3+ years of experience in upstream and downstream process development for viral vectors.
• Hands-on experience with viral vector production in cell culture systems, including bioreactor scale-up.
• Experience in process characterization and validation for regulatory filings.

Knowledge, education, and/or training needed: 

• Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering, or related fields
• Familiarity with cGMP manufacturing practices and regulatory standards for clinical production.
• Knowledge of automation systems for bioreactors and purification processes.

Additional Information

The company strives to offer a comprehensive benefit package for our employees including but not limited to the following:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance