(CW) Research Associate (Contract/Temporary)

About the role

The Therapeutics Process Development & Characterization (TPDC) group at BioMarin is seeking a Temporary Senior Research Associate I to support biologics purification and analytical characterization.

Responsibilities

• Independently perform purification of recombinant enzymes and other therapeutic biologics, including proteins, antibodies, and peptides, using ÄKTA Pure and ÄKTA Avant chromatography systems.
• Execute and optimize purification workflows including: Affinity chromatography, Ion exchange chromatography (AEX/CEX), Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), Desalting and buffer exchange.
• Evaluate purification performance and recommend process improvements to enhance yield, purity, and recovery.
• Troubleshoot chromatography, filtration, and purification processes with minimal supervision.
• Prepare buffers, reagents, and chromatography columns according to established procedures.
• Perform routine instrument checks, preventative maintenance, and basic troubleshooting of purification equipment.
• Analytical Characterization
• Perform analytical assays to assess purity, identity, concentration, and quality of biologics, including: SDS-PAGE, CE-SDS, SEC-HPLC, RP-HPLC, UV/Vis spectrophotometry, Additional Protein And Peptide Analytical Methods As Required.
• Interpret analytical data to support purification process optimization and project decision-making.
• Analyze experimental results using GraphPad Prism, JMP, Microsoft Excel, or similar software.
• Communicate experimental findings through technical summaries, presentations, and discussions with cross-functional project teams.
• Support analytical method development, qualification, or technology transfer activities as needed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline with 4–6 years of relevant industry experience, or Master's degree in a related scientific discipline with 2–4 years of relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience purifying recombinant enzymes, proteins, antibodies, or peptide therapeutics.
• Hands-on experience operating ÄKTA Pure, ÄKTA Avant, or equivalent FPLC chromatography systems.
• Experience with protein analytical techniques including SEC-HPLC, RP-HPLC, CE-SDS, SDS-PAGE, and UV/Vis spectroscopy.
• Experience with tangential-flow filtration (TFF) and ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) is preferred.

Desired Skills

• Experience in protein purification and biologics characterization.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize purification experiments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience with electronic laboratory notebooks (Benchling or similar) and data analysis software such as GraphPad Prism or JMP.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical data effectively.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high-quality scientific documentation.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary research teams.