Associate Scientist

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will be a member of a cancer biology team focused on delivering high quality drug development candidates for promising novel therapeutic targets.
• The major responsibilities will include routine mammalian cell culture, biobank maintenance and providing reliable support for cell-based assays to enable SAR studies.
• Developing and performing in vitro assays, assay troubleshooting, data analysis/interpretation/reporting and automation protocol development.
• Expected to rapidly learn the daily operation of the lab, readily adapt to changing project needs, semi-independently plan and execute projects, and develop appropriate problem-solving skills.
• Expected to maintain fluency with relevant scientific literature and rationale surrounding project targets and to be an active contributor in group discussions on results interpretation and biology activity direction.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent education, with typically 3 or more years' experience or Master's Degree or equivalent education (no additional experience).
• Fluency with general biology lab procedures - emphasis in mammalian cell culture employing excellent aseptic technique.
• Ability to interpret and document results, prepare reports, and present information to colleagues.
• Ability to independently conduct and interpret experiments and effectively function in a goal-oriented team environment.
• Preferred:
• Experience with simultaneously culturing multiple adherent and suspension cancer cell lines.
• Previous experience in small molecule drug discovery, either in academic or industrial settings.
• Experience in collaborative and matrixed environments.
• Working knowledge of high-throughput assay approaches.
• Experience with spectroscopic techniques (especially fluorescence, luminescence) and assay automation.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills and adherence to good laboratory conduct, documentation practices and safety guidelines are essential.
  
  

Benefits

Healthcare Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents healthcare coverage through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics. Premiums are subsidized by Synectics.

Dental Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents a dental plan through MetLife. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.

Vision Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees vision insurance through VSP. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.401(k) Plan: The Synectics Inc. Investment Savings Retirement Plan. Synectics offers all employees who are 21 years of age or older the opportunity to invest in the 401(k) Plan on the first enrollment date that is at least 30 days after employment begins. Enrollment dates are each January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st.

Technical Certification Bonus: Synectics is pleased to award its employees a bonus of up to $500 for an approved professional certification. In determining the bonus amount, Synectics will consider the cost of the test(s) for any certification relating to your current position, achieved during your employment with us. Only one Certification Bonus per calendar year may be awarded per employee. Only current, active employees will be eligible to receive this bonus. It will be awarded 90 days after the Synectics office has received documentation confirming the successful completion of the certification.

Synectics is an equal opportunity employer.