Description

Scientist/Senior Scientist – iPSC / MSC Biology and Assay Development

Position Summary

Ernexa Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist to support research and development efforts in off-the-shelf engineered cell therapies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) induced mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) for cancer and autoimmune disease. The successful candidate will contribute to cell biology, differentiation workflows, and development of functional assays to characterize potency, mechanism of action, and quality attributes of drug candidates. This role requires strong hands-on experience with iPSC culture, MSC biology, and assay development, with direct contribution to IND-enabling studies.

 
Key Responsibilities

Lead candidate selection process by elucidating MOAs, efficacy screening and differentiation process optimization.
Design, develop, and optimize cell-based assays to evaluate drug candidate function and potency, including phenotyping (flow cytometry), ELISA/multiplex cytokine assay, potency assays, imaging-based assays, qPCR / RT-qPCR, etc.
Lead development and analytical transfer of potential drug candidates to CMC team with regulatory alignment.
Maintain, differentiate and expand iPSC/iMSC cultures, including routine passaging, cryopreservation, quality control and troubleshooting.
Analyze experimental data and prepare summaries, reports, and presentations for internal teams and IND-enabling activities.
Maintain accurate experimental records and documentation and ensure compliance with GLP laboratory practices.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams internally and externally with CROs/CDMOs.

Requirements

 
Required Qualifications

PhD in relevant field or MS with 5+ years’ experience. Industry experiences are highly preferred.
 
Required Technical Skills

Hands-on experience with human iPSC/MSC culture and maintenance.
Strong background in assay development and cell-based functional assays.
Experience with flow cytometry, cytokine biology, immunomodulation assays and molecular biology techniques
Strong data analysis, documentation, and communication skills
 
Preferred Qualifications

Experience with engineered or gene-edited cell therapies
Experience developing potency assays for biologics or cell therapies
Experience working in GLP/GMP-adjacent research environments
Experience working in biotech or pharmaceutical industry with IND enabling actives.
 
Key Competencies

Strong experimental design and troubleshooting skills
Excellent documentation and organizational skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Strong communication and data presentation skills
Detail-oriented with a focus on reproducibility and data quality