Cell Culture Technician at US03 Lonza Walkersville Inc. in Morrisville, North Carolina

Job Description:

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across three continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

Lonza Durham, NC has an exciting opportunity for a Cell Culture Technician. The successful candidate will will perform tissue culture, tissue isolations and media production with a high degree of aseptic and technical skill. In particular, prior experience with primary cells, rodent surgery and/or hepatocyte isolation is preferred. Hire would be expected to assume additional responsibilities to facilitate departmental function including training lower level technicians, laboratory maintenance and cleaning, assisting with planning and ordering, writing protocols, performing and reporting on experiments, upholding departmental standards, and reviewing batch records. Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Key responsibilities:

• Using aseptic technique, performs primary isolations of specific cell types from human and animal tissues by using dissection or other isolation methods. Performs isolations in a Laminar Flow Biological Safety Cabinet. Primarily focuses on isolating cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood, cord blood and leukapaks.


• Performs screening, feeding, passaging, harvesting and cryopreservation of cells. Utilizes aseptic technique in product handling.


• Maintains lab in good working order, which includes operation and maintenance of equipment (centrifuges, microscopes and incubators).


• Prepares media and other materials used in production processes.


• Performs general laboratory cleaning and maintains logs.


• Performs product packaging and labeling of products.


• Monitors temperature of critical equipment. Monitors calibration status of critical equipment.


• Enters process order information into SAP computer system to track labor and materials used in productions.


• Removes regular and autoclavable trash from laboratory. Removes excess tissue for incineration.


• Assists in the production of cell pellets and proliferating cells.


• May order supplies or labware when levels drop below critical levels.


• Manufactures research reagents and assay plates. Prepares cells in a variety of formats (plates, flasks, suspensions, and frozen vials).


• Writes and updates SOPs.


• Provides training to new technicians.


• Assists in the determination of feasibility for custom products. Determines production costs and provides input on custom requests.


• Performs custom cell isolations based on research papers or protocols, not SOPs.


• Collects data on custom cell isolations as required by the customer and the manager.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life sciences with cell culture/biology experience preferred


• Aseptic technique and experience in cell culture required


• Knowledge of cGMP and/or clean room behavior preferred


• Experience with rodent surgery and hepatocytes preferred


• Ability to use pipettes and other scientific equipment including microscopes, laminar flow biological safety cabinet, centrifuges.


• Ability to read and follow SOPs and understand the importance of GMP/ISO compliance.


• Ability to learn multiple procedures and understand importance of specific scientific techniques.


• Ability to understand and follow cleaning schedules; math skills and problem solving skills.


• Written and oral communication skills to include accurate and legible documentation skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.


• Computer skills including Microsoft Office and familiarity with databases.


• Organization skills, recordkeeping, filing, time management skills, regular attendance.


• Strong written and oral communication skills, team oriented, independent work skills.


• Analytical ability, both interpersonal and issue-related; good judgment and ethics; professional demeanor.


• Self-motivated, strong work ethic, and ability to “get the job done” and take responsibility for results without direct authority.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.