Associate Scientist - Microanalytical

Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

Onsite Flexibility: Onsite

• Position Type: Contract
• Contract Duration: 6 months (with potential for extension, dependent on candidate performance evaluation)
• Pay Rate: $24.00–$27.00 / Hour (USD)
• Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This role is within the client's Thousand Oaks microanalytical (Forensics) team
, located within the Attribute Sciences (AS) department and the Process Development (PD) organization. The Process Development Associate Scientist will broadly support microanalytical investigations by generating and analyzing data and reporting results of experiments designed to identify and assess unknown or unexpected materials (e.g., organic, inorganic, and/or biological in origin) observed during commercial or clinical manufacturing, product complaints, and/or product development activities.

The Associate Scientist will need to understand and apply state-of-the-art spectroscopic and microscopic analytical tools to forensic investigations, applying a level of documentation and compliance rigor commensurate with the responsibility to ensure that the client's products and processes meet the highest current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) quality standards.

• Apply spectroscopic, microscopic, wet chemistry, and sample-handling techniques to characterize unexpected organic, inorganic, and/or biological materials in support of root cause investigations
• Generate, organize, analyze, and interpret analytical data under minimal supervision
• Document experiments, data, interpretations, and conclusions with rigor consistent with GDocP and cGMP expectations
• Collaborate effectively within the Forensics team by providing support for ongoing forensics investigations and seeking input from colleagues
• Communicate technical findings clearly through scientific discussions, laboratory notebook records, and presentations
• Maintain safe, compliant, and efficient laboratory operations, including use of standard laboratory equipment and major analytical instruments relevant to forensic investigations
• Contribute as needed to internal/external reports, papers, presentations, regulatory documents, invention disclosure submissions, and/or patents
• Provide as-needed support for discussions with internal and external (e.g., contract manufacturing) partners across the client's network to drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and investigation closure

• Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Degree or coursework in a scientific discipline

• Coursework and experience focused on Analytical Chemistry, Materials Science, or related discipline
• Experience in an investigational laboratory setting within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company
• Hands-on experience in vibrational spectroscopies such as Fourier-Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopies
• Hands-on experience with optical and electron microscopies
• Demonstrated ability to critically analyze analytical datasets to influence the investigational process
• Strong understanding and experience of wet chemistry and sample handling
• Strong commitment to compliance with Good Documentation Practices (GDocPs) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for the timely documentation, presentation, and discussion of scientific results in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary, team-based environment

• Master's degree; OR
• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience (academic or industrial); OR
• Associate's degree and 4 years of experience; OR
• High school diploma / GED and 6 years of experience

• Day-to-day responsibilities include supporting and eventually independently leading forensic analysis requests
• Candidate will be evaluated on initial progress on training and, eventually, the quantity and complexity of forensics investigations involved in
• Candidate will be evaluated on the quality of their documentation (laboratory notebook entries) and collaboration with immediate team members
• Candidate will be expected to have completed basic training on applicable group and company trainings within the first two months
• For the following months, the candidate will be expected to support or lead forensics…