Umoja Biopharma, Inc.
Senior Scientist, Product Sciences
Umoja Biopharma, Inc., Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Umoja Biopharma is a game-changing biotech start-up with locations in Seattle, WA and Louisville, CO, focused on transforming the treatment of cancer with a novel integrated immunotherapy platform. Our vision is to develop off-the-shelf therapies capable of treating any tumor, any time. We are a diverse and growing team working in brand-new facilities in downtown Seattle, Washington, and Louisville, Colorado, and we are looking for innovative thinkers who are excited by groundbreaking science and technology, and passionate about squaring up to the challenges inherent to cutting edge drug development. We are committed to the principles of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and strongly invite applications from enthusiastic individuals who share our commitment and help position Umoja as a leader in this front.
We at Umoja believe in the importance of stories; we are looking for great people to join our team to help us create more stories for ourselves, for you, and most importantly for patients and their families.
Position Summary The Umoja Biopharma Product Sciences team is seeking a driven Senior Scientist to conduct studies to support characterization of Lentiviral Vector (LVV). The successful candidate will be developing a variety of molecular, cellular, biophysical, and biochemical protocols that deepen the product knowledge on the CAR‑T cells. This position works closely with other functions to develop product sciences analytical methods, analyze multiple VivoVec products and train other analysts. This position plays a critical role in advancing Umoja’s pipeline and Analytical Development capabilities.
Core Accountabilities Specific responsibilities include:
Develop biological hypothesis driven studies to characterize cellular and viral attributes, and correlation to clinical outcomes.
Collaborate with AD and Research team members on various stages of analytical method lifecycle (development/qualification/transfer)
Development of robust, sensitive, and fit‑for‑purpose bioanalytical assays to characterize cell and vector products, intermediates and starting material.
Perform routine product sciences testing to support Process and Product understanding.
Write Method Development Reports and qualification reports, as well as perform method qualifications
Maintain clear records of experimental work using an electronic notebook system that adheres to company guidelines
Prepare technical data reports and presentations
Contribute to IND drafting for Module 3
Communicate research and data in cross‑functional meetings as designated SME
Exemplify the company core values and adhere to company policies to ensure safety and quality of gene therapy products and facility
Qualifications
A PhD/MS/BS in Biology, Biochemistry, or related discipline with 2/9/12 years of relevant experience, respectively. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Hands‑on experience with one or more of following techniques: primary cell‑based assays, flow cytometry, ddPCR, or ELISA
Experience with regulatory submissions for early and/or late‑stage clinical trials
Preferred Qualifications
Excellent communication skills with the proven ability to build open and collaborative relationships and work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
Experience with viral vectors (e.g., AAV, LVV) is a plus
Experience with experimental design, execution, and basic data analysis is a plus
Self‑motivation, organization, effective communication and presentation skills
Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, meet deadlines, and prioritize work on multiple projects
Strong communication skills in technical writing and oral presentation. Respectful of others and open to new ideas.
Physical Requirements
100% compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements in laboratory environments, including gloves, protective clothing, and eye safety glasses.
Perform physical tasks required for the role, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, sitting, working your hands in a biosafety cabinet, and occasionally moving materials up to 50 pounds.
Project‑oriented work in this role will require regular on‑site presence (5 days/week) to complete essential job‑related functions for assisting with analytical development and execution.
Salary Range: $136,765 - $185,035
Benefits Offerings Umoja Biopharma offers its employees competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans. Additionally, we offer Umojians access to a 401k plan through Fidelity, with a 100% match up to their first 4% deferral. Umoja also provides a generous Paid Time Off policy, employee commuter benefits, and cell phone stipend. For a full breakdown of our benefits offerings, please see the Benefits section of our website.
Voluntary Self‑Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.
As set forth in Umoja Biopharma’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
Voluntary Self‑Identification of Disability Form CC‑305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?
Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury
Public burdens statement: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
We at Umoja believe in the importance of stories; we are looking for great people to join our team to help us create more stories for ourselves, for you, and most importantly for patients and their families.
Position Summary The Umoja Biopharma Product Sciences team is seeking a driven Senior Scientist to conduct studies to support characterization of Lentiviral Vector (LVV). The successful candidate will be developing a variety of molecular, cellular, biophysical, and biochemical protocols that deepen the product knowledge on the CAR‑T cells. This position works closely with other functions to develop product sciences analytical methods, analyze multiple VivoVec products and train other analysts. This position plays a critical role in advancing Umoja’s pipeline and Analytical Development capabilities.
Core Accountabilities Specific responsibilities include:
Develop biological hypothesis driven studies to characterize cellular and viral attributes, and correlation to clinical outcomes.
Collaborate with AD and Research team members on various stages of analytical method lifecycle (development/qualification/transfer)
Development of robust, sensitive, and fit‑for‑purpose bioanalytical assays to characterize cell and vector products, intermediates and starting material.
Perform routine product sciences testing to support Process and Product understanding.
Write Method Development Reports and qualification reports, as well as perform method qualifications
Maintain clear records of experimental work using an electronic notebook system that adheres to company guidelines
Prepare technical data reports and presentations
Contribute to IND drafting for Module 3
Communicate research and data in cross‑functional meetings as designated SME
Exemplify the company core values and adhere to company policies to ensure safety and quality of gene therapy products and facility
Qualifications
A PhD/MS/BS in Biology, Biochemistry, or related discipline with 2/9/12 years of relevant experience, respectively. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Hands‑on experience with one or more of following techniques: primary cell‑based assays, flow cytometry, ddPCR, or ELISA
Experience with regulatory submissions for early and/or late‑stage clinical trials
Preferred Qualifications
Excellent communication skills with the proven ability to build open and collaborative relationships and work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
Experience with viral vectors (e.g., AAV, LVV) is a plus
Experience with experimental design, execution, and basic data analysis is a plus
Self‑motivation, organization, effective communication and presentation skills
Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, meet deadlines, and prioritize work on multiple projects
Strong communication skills in technical writing and oral presentation. Respectful of others and open to new ideas.
Physical Requirements
100% compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements in laboratory environments, including gloves, protective clothing, and eye safety glasses.
Perform physical tasks required for the role, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, sitting, working your hands in a biosafety cabinet, and occasionally moving materials up to 50 pounds.
Project‑oriented work in this role will require regular on‑site presence (5 days/week) to complete essential job‑related functions for assisting with analytical development and execution.
Salary Range: $136,765 - $185,035
Benefits Offerings Umoja Biopharma offers its employees competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans. Additionally, we offer Umojians access to a 401k plan through Fidelity, with a 100% match up to their first 4% deferral. Umoja also provides a generous Paid Time Off policy, employee commuter benefits, and cell phone stipend. For a full breakdown of our benefits offerings, please see the Benefits section of our website.
Voluntary Self‑Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.
As set forth in Umoja Biopharma’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
Voluntary Self‑Identification of Disability Form CC‑305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?
Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury
Public burdens statement: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
#J-18808-Ljbffr