MSAT Associate II

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly 

Schedule: Monday – Friday; 0830-1700; Weekends/holidays as needed; Occasionally workday may extend over 8 hours due to cell processing or other required tasks. To prevent extended workday, manager may instruct shift in schedule hours (i.e. 1000 start instead of 0800). 

Department: CMC - GMP 

Reports to: MSAT Manager, CMC - GMP 

Supervisory responsibilities: No 

Location: 13203 Murphy Rd. Suite 100, Stafford, TX 77477 ; UT Health Science Center 1941 East Rd, BBSB 6102 Houston, TX 77054 

Position Summary/objective: 

The primary purpose of the MSAT Associate II is to facilitate and optimize the transition of technology (processes, reagents/supplies, equipment) between designated Sending Units (Process Development) and Receiving Units (GMP Manufacturing). The MSAT Associate II utilizes technical skills and knowledge-based expertise to perform specialized cell manipulation and perform analytical tests within time-sensitive deadlines. The MSAT Associate II can perform the laboratory and/or office tasks of MSAT Associate I with increased frequency and moderate multi-tasking capabilities. 

Essential functions: 

Laboratory Functions  

• Excellent general lab skills.  

• Proficiency in using simple and moderately complex instruments e.g. microscope, cell counters, BSC, micropipettes, centrifuge, etc.  

• Independently perform calculations to determine cell viability, dilutions, and cell concentrations.  

• Ability to follow instructions to execute experiments and analytical tests. 

•  Strong hands-on skills in immunological, biochemical, and molecular techniques including flow cytometry as defined in work instructions or SOPs.  

• Analysis of flow cytometry data through software (FlowJo).  

• Contributes to lot qualification of GMP reagents.  

• Preparation of reagent stocks.  

• Inventory of laboratory supplies and reagents, communicates when minimum on hand has been reached.  

• Performs aseptic cell growth and manipulation procedures such as cell isolation or enrichment, sorting, culture, and cryopreservation.  

• Assists in patient PBMC isolation.  

• Maintains project-specific supply inventories and informs manager inventory status.  

• Contributes to maintenance and transfer of off-study patient material through maintenance of cryopreserved inventory and completion of required internal forms and communication.  

• Coordinates transfer of cryopreserved material or supplies stored at off-site locations (GMP facility, Cryogene) through documentation of required internal and external forms and communication.  

• Other duties as assigned  

Office Functions

• Communicate (emails and phone calls) with vendors/sales (external party) representatives, peers to obtain required information.  

• Contributes to maintenance of off-study material database and associated documents.  

• Ability to transcribe or follow templates to complete internal forms and documents. 

Secondary functions: 

• Consistent execution of aseptic processing for all necessary manufacturing and functional studies. Identifies and reports any culture contaminations.  

• Understands study plans and instructions to execute experiments with supervision.  

• Ability to learn new technical assays e.g. flow cytometry or ELISA.  

• Ability to review and recognize errors processing documents and calculations.  

• Ability to identify and report instrument malfunction.  

• Contributes to literature review, data collection from various sources to support experiments, troubleshooting, inter-departmental studies, assessments, or corrective actions. 

•  Contributes to and has the ability to present presentations (Powerpoint) in internal team and departmental meetings. 

 Competencies: 

• Maintains knowledge of current cGMP.  

• A high degree of curiosity, a passion for growing your own skillset and learning from others and an interest in working in a collaborative and team-oriented environment.  

• Ability to work independently under general or limited supervision, and as part of a team to successfully execute projects.  

• Advanced organization skills required to structure work schedules beyond own daily tasks according to (& beyond) pre-defined work packages for standard & nonstandard lab processes.  

• Highly motivated, self-starter with problem solving skills.  

• Ability to work productively and to participate in a highly creative and fast-paced environment.  

• Highly organized and strong attention to detail. 

  Work environment: 

• Typical office environment with moderate noise levels (~50% of work hours).  

• Uses phone, computer, office equipment and supplies on a regular basis 

• General unclassified laboratory spaces (~40% of work hours).  

• Common laboratory equipment and noise levels.  

• cGMP clean room spaces and facilities (~10% of work hours).  

• Grade A/B/C/D GMP environment with associated facility noise levels.  

• Uses cleanroom phone, computer, variety of equipment and reagent/supplies.  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee could handle blood components and is occasionally exposed to temperatures between -196°C and 40°C, liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrogen vapor, dry ice, and carbon dioxide. 

Physical demands: 

• Communicating Verbally – expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to others to convey detailed spoken instructions or other workers accurately, loudly or quickly. 

• Hearing – the ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds one-on-one, group or conference, telephone, and other sounds. 

• Keyboarding – entering data or text into a computer or other machine by means of a keyboard. Devices include a traditional keyboard, 10 key-pad, touch screens and others.  

• Lifting - raising or lowering an object (up to 25 lbs) from one level to another (includes upward pulling). Carrying is to transport an object – usually by holding it in the hands or arms but may occur on the shoulder. 

• Near Visual Acuity – clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less (working with small objects, reading small print, including the use of computers).  

• Pushing - Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the object. 

• Pulling - Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force.  

• Sitting – remaining in a sitting position for at least 50% of the time. 

• Standing/Walking - remain on one's feet in an upright position at a workstation.  

• Stooping – occasional bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist - requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles. 

 Travel required: Travel may be required between Immatics facilities or for required functions. 

Required education and experience: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or other related field.  

• Two (2) to four(4) years of cell therapy manufacturing or wet lab experience.  

• Basic cell culture lab techniques such as cell passaging, cryopreservation, formulation of media, aseptic technique, cell counting, and managing reagents.  

• Ability to work productively and to participate in a highly creative and fast-paced environment.  

• Basic computer skills, data analyses software, graphing skills 

 Preferred education and experience: 

• Basic understanding of qualification/validation activities (process, equipment,etc.).  

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel,Word, PowerPoint).  

• Experience working in GMP cell therapy manufacturing. 

 Work authorization/security clearance requirements: 

Legal eligibility to work in the United States is required. Immatics participates in E-Verify and all new employees will be subject to the Department of Homeland Security requirements for employment 

Affirmative Action/EEO statement: 

Immatics is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, medical​​conditions, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or ​expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.” 

Other duties: