Application Scientist

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious candidate to join the PerkinElmer OneSource Scientific Services team based at one of our customer sites in Pennsylvania. The successful candidate will be working within the PerkinElmer Technical Lab Services (TLS) division and will be placed within a team at the customer site who have a focus on high-throughput, automated processes supporting innovative and life-changing research and development activities. The candidate will work within a collaborative team environment across a diverse biotherapeutic portfolio within the company and can develop in PerkinElmer's scientific arena. The role will report to a dedicated PerkinElmer team leader and will be based at the GSK Upper Providence campus.

Job Responsibilities

• Leverage integrated assay automation platform to execute medium-high-throughput cell-based screens and assays in collaboration with therapeutic area and functional area scientists.
• Train equipment users on key concepts associated with the platforms to support best practices and mitigate avoidable run failures, ensuring optimal routine operation.
• Assist with programming the automated platform for assay protocol development.
• Act as the 'first-responder' for troubleshooting and error recovery.
• Maintain cell lines and primary cell cultures.
• Demonstrate flexibility in accommodating rapidly changing priorities and deadlines.
• Manage laboratory inventories.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety procedures and guidelines.
• Support equipment maintenance and establish strong relationships with OEM Service Organizations.
• Interact with other engineers to leverage platform/systems knowledge to minimize instrument downtime.
• Maintain training and compliance in areas of health and safety, security, environmental, and operational aspects of daily activities in the working environment.
• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job at any time.

Critical Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
• Self-motivated and able to work under pressure to prioritize conflicting deadlines.
• An ability to meet timelines successfully with the utmost attention to detail while setting high-performance standards.
• Service orientated attitude combined with innovative thinking.
• Strong interpersonal skills; strong team player with customer satisfaction focus
• Ability to execute new and established methods and protocols.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate complex scientific data.
• Understanding of standard software packages (i.e. Microsoft Office).
• Ability to operate within company and/or customer site safety codes of practice.

Basic Qualifications

• Associate degree with 5+ years of experience in laboratory automation and/or lab instrumentation support.
• Experience working with the Tecan Fluent
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team-based environment
• Proficient in cellular and biochemical assay techniques.
• Knowledgeable in good laboratory practices (GLP) and good laboratory safety practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related discipline with 2 years of experience in laboratory automation and/or lab instrumentation support
• Experience with additional equipment such as Combi, BlueWasher, Cytomat, Liconic, WDII, PlateLoc, Xpeel, Cytation, Pherastar, Vspin, Echo.
• Experience with immortalized and/or primary cell culture.
• Knowledge of device networking and communications protocols.
• Experience of scripting and other advanced programming languages.

Working Environment

• Employees will be provided with PerkinElmer uniform to be worn when on site.
• Must be able to work in a laboratory and controlled environments requiring personal protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses, etc.).
• Work with biohazards upon completion of blood borne pathogen surveillance.
• Hepatitis B vaccination may be required, vaccination program in place for successful candidates who are not already vaccinated or require updated boosters. Opt out optional.
• Job pace may be fast and job completion demands may be high.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position more than 25% of the time
• The person needs to occasionally move between laboratories, corridors, adjoining rooms, and buildings onsite. Occasional travel to other customer sites may be needed.
• Frequently operate on instruments, objects, tools or controls, which will require regularly bending, squatting, stretching and reaching to perform in a service function.
• Occasionally move or lift up to 25 pounds (potential for occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds).
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include without limitation, the ability to observe details at close range distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus to perform the essential service functions of this position.
• Operation of a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• The employee may be required to manage hazardous waste in compliance with company procedures and local and national hazardous waste regulations. Duties may include identifying, handling, generating, accumulating, storing, labelling.
• Potential risk to lab-based hazards including but not limited to extreme temperature, biological materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• May be required to complete Medical Clearance, Respiratory Protection Training, and Fit Testing to wear a respirator as protection against hazards present in the laboratory environment.

The annual compensation range for this full-time position is $70,000 to $90,000. The final base pay offered to the successful candidate will be determined by factors including internal equity, work location, as well as individual qualifications, such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.