Company Introduction:
Founded in 2004, SignalChem Biotech is a world’s leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of active kinases and disease-relevant kinase mutants. With expertise in cellular signaling, molecular biology, and biochemistry, SignalChem has developed over 4,000 functional recombinant protein products, establishing itself as a key player in the global market for active recombinant signaling enzymes. Recently acquired by Sino Biological, a world-renowned reagent supplier and contract research organization listed on ChiNext of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (301047 Sino Biological Inc.). SignalChem is now expanding its capabilities and creating multiple new positions.
Job Description:
We are seeking a hands-on Senior Scientist to develop, optimize, and execute cell-based functional assays for drug discovery, reagent characterization, and custom CRO programs across biologics and small molecules.
The ideal candidate has strong mammalian cell culture skills and practical experience with multiple functional assay formats. The scientist will be responsible for assay design, experimental execution, troubleshooting, quantitative data analysis, and preparation of high-quality client or internal study reports.
Key Responsibilities
1. Mammalian Cell Culture & Assay Readiness
● Cell Line Culture & Maintenance: Maintain adherent and suspension mammalian cell lines, including receptor-expressing and reporter cell lines; perform routine passaging, cryopreservation, thawing, cell counting, viability assessment, and basic culture QC.
● Primary Cell Handling: Handle primary cells such as PBMCs, whole-blood-derived cells, or other project-specific primary cell types when required; support cell isolation, stimulation, and optimization of culture conditions.
● Assay Cell Preparation & Qualification: Support transient transfection and qualification of engineered or stable cell lines, including target-expression checks, cell-health assessment, and assay-readiness testing.
2. Cell-Based Assay Development & Functional Characterization
● Functional Assays & Dose-Response Studies: Develop and execute concentration-response assays for activation, inhibition, potency, viability, proliferation, apoptosis, cytotoxicity, receptor internalization, and other cellular endpoints; determine EC50, IC50, or related parameters as appropriate.
● Reporter & Signaling Bioassays: Perform reporter- and pathway-based assays using platforms such as luciferase, SEAP, cAMP, calcium flux, beta-arrestin, or phosphorylation readouts to characterize receptor and intracellular signaling responses.
● Flow Cytometry-Based Assays: Perform flow-cytometry assays for cell-surface binding, receptor expression, internalization, apoptosis, immune-cell phenotyping, and other cellular readouts, including compensation, gating, and quantitative analysis.
● Secreted Biomarker & Cytokine Readouts: Measure cytokines, chemokines, or other secreted biomarkers using ELISA, multiplex, or compatible plate-based methods to complement cellular functional endpoints.
● Kinetic, Fluorescent & Imaging Assays: Perform fluorescence-, luminescence-, or absorbance-based kinetic assays using microplate readers and, where applicable, microscopy or imaging-based approaches.
3. Assay Optimization, Validation & Technical Support
● Assay Development & Troubleshooting: Optimize cell density, stimulation, incubation time, reagent concentrations, plate layout, controls, and detection parameters; troubleshoot assay variability and support assay transfer or scale-up when needed.
4. Data Analysis, Quality Control & Reporting
● Quantitative Data Analysis: Fit dose-response curves, calculate EC50/IC50 and percent activation/inhibition, and summarize results using software such as GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, and Excel.
● Assay Quality & Reproducibility: Monitor assay performance using controls and quality metrics such as CV, signal-to-background, dynamic range, and, where applicable, Z-prime.
● Documentation & Reporting: Maintain clear experimental records and prepare technical summaries, analyzed data packages, and raw data files for internal teams, project managers, or CRO clients.
Required Qualifications & Technical Skills
● Education: Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant industry experience; or M.S. with 5+ years of relevant industry or CRO laboratory experience.
● Mammalian Cell Culture: Strong hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, including both adherent and suspension cell lines, with demonstrated ability to maintain cell quality and troubleshoot culture-related problems.
● Cell-Based Assay Experience: Demonstrated experience developing or executing multiple cell-based functional assay formats, such as reporter assays, receptor signaling assays, viability/proliferation assays, apoptosis/cytotoxicity assays, or other pharmacology-oriented cellular assays.
● Flow Cytometry: Hands-on experience with flow cytometry for cellular binding, receptor expression, phenotyping, or functional assays, including basic panel design, compensation, gating, and analysis using software such as FlowJo.
● Plate-Based Assays & Instrumentation: Proficiency with luminescence, fluorescence, and absorbance assays and multimode plate readers; experience with ELISA, HTRF/TR-FRET, or related assay technologies is a plus.
● Experimental Design & Data Analysis: Ability to design controlled experiments, analyze quantitative biological data, interpret dose-response relationships, identify sources of assay variability, and communicate conclusions clearly.
Preferred Qualifications
● Prior experience working in a CRO / Contract Research Organization, bioassay group, or fast-paced biotechnology or pharmaceutical discovery environment.
● Experience with primary cells, transient transfection, stable cell-line generation, automated liquid handling, high-content imaging, or advanced signaling assays is an advantage.
● Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and communicating experimental results to project managers, cross-functional teams, or external clients.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Experience:
- Cell culture: 1 year (preferred)
- flow cytometry: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
