Hybridoma Cell Biologist

Job Advert Summary

Guided by its purpose to provide products for patients to alleviate pain and suffering and improve their quality of life, NBI’s vision is to be the leading African manufacturer and supplier of quality therapeutic proteins and diagnostic products.

National Bioproducts Institute NPC has a vacancy for the role of Hybridoma Cell Biologist. The successful incumbent will be required to:

To culture Hybridoma cells to produce a ascitic fluid to meet monoclonal antibody production demands.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates.

Minimum Requirements

• BSc Honours Degree in Biochemistry
• 2-3 years cell / tissue culture experience
• Experience in in vitro cell culture or Hybridoma work, immunoassays, ELISA’s
• Basic knowledge of quality systems
• Computer Literacy in MS Office and SAP

Duties and Responsibilities

Organises and executes activities of the Hybridoma laboratory

• Culture specific monoclonal antibodies for research and commercial purposes
• Interprets and reports results to the Section Head: Antibody Production
• Maintains onsite cryogenic repository of Hybridoma clones that produce saleable mAbs.
• Liaise with external / off-site cryogenic repository service provider for the maintenance of Hybridoma clones.
• Liaise with Section Head: Antibody Production and Manager: Diagnostic Product Production, to culture the appropriate hybridoma cell line for the agreed time period to meet the projected sales forecast.
• Liaise with Section Head: Antibody Production and Manager: Diagnostic Product Production to determine the number of mice to be injected with each cell line and the time period over which to inject these mice to obtain sufficient levels of ascitic fluid to meet projected sales forecast and address shortfalls in ascitic fluid stock levels.

Performs ELISA testing

• Performs ELISA’s for testing culture supernatants for verification of mAb production and for mycoplasma contamination detection.
• Interpreting and reporting of results to Section Head: Antibody Production.

Maintains compliance to ISO13485 standard

• Creates SAP quality notifications for cell culture or ELISA non-conformances
• Performs root cause analyses as required
• Executes experimental investigations into product non-conformances
• Reviews experimental results ensuring effective analysis of data.
• Prepares investigation reports for quality notifications

Lab resourcing and inventory maintenance

• Maintains inventory of laboratory for Hybridoma orders.
• Maintains laboratory equipment and supplies.
• Ensures that all equipment is properly commissioned by service provider prior to initial use.
• Monitors compliance according to ISO13485 standards.
• Manages lab equipment, cleanliness and stock levels.
• Performs limited trouble shooting of instruments.
• Facilitates the general housekeeping of the laboratory.

Core Competencies

• Leading and Influencing Others
• Business Impact
• Managing Relationships
• Personal Leadership
• Leading and Influencing others Technical/Professional knowledge and proficiency
• Decision making
• Planning and Organising
• Initiating work
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Attention to detail and analysis