Research Scientist II

Overview

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values. These values include academic excellence, freedom of expression and inquiry, innovation, collaboration, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 50,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.

2. We strive for excellence.

3. We thrive on diversity.

4. We celebrate collaboration.

5. We champion innovation.

6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.

8. We act ethically.

9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Atlanta, GA

The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has vibrant undergraduate and graduate programs, with over 400 undergraduate majors and 170 graduate students, and an extensive research portfolio. Its faculty, staff, and students participate in a range of dynamic and collaborative research programs and enjoy modern facilities located on a pleasant urban campus in the City of Atlanta, Georgia.

The Research Scientist will serve as the primary scientific investigator for the EteRNAVax project, funded by GRA Ventures Phase IB. This position is responsible for executing all experimental work related to the formulation, optimization, and independent validation of hybrid lipid nanoparticles (hLNPs) as a high-performance nucleic acid delivery platform. The researcher will carry out head-to-head benchmarking of hLNPs against electroporation and leading commercial transfection reagents in high-value cell systems, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), HEK293, and CHO cells, using industry-standard protocols at the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Manufacturing (Georgia Tech).

The Research Scientist will also lead formulation refinement, scalable manufacturing development using microfluidic mixing, data analysis, and coordination with external testing partners. Results generated in this role will directly support commercialization decisions regarding startup formation or licensing of the hLNP platform, and will contribute to engagement with RNA suppliers, biomanufacturing partners, and potential investors.

1. hLNP Formulation Optimization

• Refine hLNP lipid composition and physicochemical parameters for optimal transfection performance in iPSC, HEK293, and CHO cell systems.
• Systematically vary lipid ratios, ionizable lipid concentration, and formulation parameters (pH, ionic strength, lipid:RNA ratio) to maximize efficiency and minimize cellular stress.
• Characterize nanoparticles using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurement, and encapsulation efficiency assays.
• Maintain complete laboratory records of all formulations, parameters, and outcomes in accordance with institutional guidelines.

2. Microfluidic Device Design and Fabrication

• Design, test, and iterate microfluidic chip configurations (e.g., staggered herringbone mixers) for scalable, reproducible hLNP production.
• Coordinate cleanroom access, nanoprinting, and device fabrication at the Marcus Center.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for microfluidic hLNP manufacturing.
• Evaluate batch-to-batch reproducibility and confirm scale compatibility for future commercial production.

3. In Vitro Benchmarking and Transfection Studies

• Conduct head-to-head transfection comparisons of hLNPs versus electroporation and leading commercial reagents (e.g., Lipofectamine MessengerMAX, ExpiFectamine) in iPSCs, HEK293, and CHO cells.
• Quantify transfection efficiency using reporter assays (luciferase, GFP) and flow cytometry across mRNA, saRNA, and plasmid DNA payloads.
• Measure post-transfection cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation/pluripotency marker retention (e.g., Oct4, Sox2, SSEA4) in iPSC experiments.
• Assess protein production yield (recombinant protein output per cell and per batch) in HEK293 and CHO systems under industrially relevant conditions.
• Evaluate cellular stress markers including reactive oxygen species (ROS), heat shock proteins, and apoptosis indicators across all cell systems and transfection methods.

4. Coordination with the Marcus Center for Biomanufacturing

• Prepare and ship hLNP formulations and associated documentation to support independent benchmarking studies at the Marcus Center.
• Coordinate experimental design, scheduling, and data transfer with Marcus Center staff under industry-standard (ISO 9001) protocols.
• Review and interpret Marcus Center testing reports; communicate findings to the PI and project team.

5. Data Analysis and Scientific Reporting

• Perform rigorous quantitative analysis of all experimental data using appropriate statistical methods.
• Prepare figures, data tables, and written summaries suitable for grant reporting, investor presentations, and potential publication.
• Contribute to milestone deliverable documents including the Marcus Center benchmarking report, protein yield comparison report, and scalable formulation characterization package.
• Support preparation of licensing materials, pitch documents, and commercialization strategy inputs as directed by the PI.

6. Laboratory Operations and Compliance

• Maintain laboratory safety standards and comply with all Georgia Tech institutional guidelines for biological and chemical research.
• Procure and manage cell culture supplies, nanoparticle reagents, and consumables within allocated budget.
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory notebooks and data files in accordance with good laboratory practice (GLP) standards.
• Participate in team meetings, project reviews, and external presentations as required.

Three (3) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of Masters

OR

Five (5) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of Bachelors

Hands-on experience with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), including maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation assays.

Experience with microfluidic device design, fabrication, or use in nanoparticle manufacturing.

Familiarity with industrial biomanufacturing platforms (HEK293, CHO) and recombinant protein production workflows.

• Knowledge of lipid nanoparticle formulation principles, including ionizable lipid chemistry, lipid bilayer assembly, and encapsulation of nucleic acid payloads (mRNA, saRNA, plasmid DNA)
• Knowledge of nucleic acid biology, including mRNA transcription, translation, and self-amplifying RNA mechanisms
• Knowledge of mammalian cell biology, including cell cycle, membrane dynamics, endosomal trafficking, and endosomal escape mechanisms relevant to intracellular delivery
• Knowledge of scalable nanoparticle manufacturing methods, including ethanol injection and microfluidic mixing (e.g., staggered herringbone mixers)
• Knowledge of nanoparticle physicochemical characterization techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurement, and encapsulation efficiency assays

• Skill in formulating and characterizing lipid nanoparticles, including optimization of particle size, polydispersity, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency
• Skill in mammalian cell culture, including passaging, cryopreservation, and maintenance of both adherent and suspension cell lines
• Skill in quantitative reporter gene assays, including luciferase bioluminescence and GFP fluorescence quantification by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy
• Skill in recombinant protein expression quantification (e.g., ELISA, western blot, BCA/Bradford protein assay)
• Skill in microfluidic device operation and, preferably, chip design and fabrication

• Ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret complex multi-variable experiments with minimal supervision
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent experimental workstreams (iPSC optimization, HEK/CHO benchmarking, microfluidic development) and meet defined project milestones within a compressed timeline
• Ability to work collaboratively with external partners, including the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Manufacturing, and to communicate technical requirements clearly to non-laboratory stakeholders
• Ability to maintain rigorous documentation and data integrity standards appropriate for work that will inform intellectual property, licensing, and investor decisions
• Ability to operate safely and compliantly in a BSL-2 laboratory environment while handling biological materials, chemical reagents, and controlled substances

For additional information contact: Marcus T Cicerone (mcicerone3@gatech.edu)

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

The candidate of choice will be required to pass a pre-employment background screening. http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening.