Nucleic Acid Chemist - Louisville, United States - Eurofins USA Genomic Services

Description

Job Description

This is an exciting time to join the Eurofins Genomics LLC. The company is rapidly expanding oligonucleotide manufacturing to support the increasing demand of molecular diagnostics.

You will work directly with some of the biggest companies in life sciences to manufacture and develop oligonucleotides (oligos) and support ever evolving needs.

Eurofins Genomics LLC has been active in supporting pandemic relief with primers/probe production for SARS-CoV-02 in addition to being a key supplier of oligos for other diagnostic applications.

We have also teamed up with our local community to support projects in SARS-CoV-02 community surveillance.

The Nucleic Acid Chemist will be an owner in area of expertise (oligonucleotide synthesis, deprotection, purification, analysis and quality control).

This position reports directly to the Principal Scientist.


General Overall Responsibilities:
Independently develop and execute experimental plans with minimal supervision

Manage the area priorities based on aligned company needs

Develop initial plan for customer projects in area of expertise

Innovate and introduce automation in order to reduce waste and improve efficiencies

Work with vendors to develop best practices for equipment in area

Responsible for IQ, OQ and PQ for synthesis, downstream manufacturing, and analytical equipment

Automate workflows in area to improve lead times and mitigate manual errors

Write SOPs and equipment plans. Train lab personnel. Maintain QMS documents as current.

Work with Environmental Health and Safety, EHS, to ensure area fully conforms to highest safety standards

Conduct QMS / EHS audits and complete assigned improvement actions

Synthesis Specific

Serve as subject matter expert for large scale AKTA, BLP, and Internal Synthesis Platforms

Monitoring and management of current synthesis machines to ensure operation at basic condition and detect deviations from basic condition

Development of new protocols that include new 3', internal, and 5' modifications within synthesis process

Development of new synthesis scales, frit development, plate loading automation, and synthesis column fill automation

Lead qualification of new materials including CPG, Amidites, and Reagents

Work with operations team for new projects to develop synthesis strategy

Lead cost reduction projects through reduction of reagents, maximization of yields

Liquid Handling and Automation Specific

Method development for oligo normalization, quantification using liquid handing equipment such as Hamilton Microlabs, Echo, TECANs etc.

Ability to develop new methods for deprotection/cleavage processes to suit various oligo modifications

Develop criteria that ensures liquid handling equipment maintains specification with triggered action on drift from basic condition

Train lab personnel on developed methods and transfer methods for high throughput and specialized production

Purification Specific

HPLC method development for specific DNA/RNA modifications, scales, lengths, and purity

Customization of method and mobile phases to maximize yields while maintaining quality

Develop new downstream workflows for automated larger scale purification process

Develop and implement other purification processes (PAGE, Cartridge, etc) that expand portfolio for purification