Company Summary
Prolacta is the pioneer in human milk-based nutritional products for premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Prolacta believes that there is no adequate replacement for human breast milk and, as such, we believe infant nutritional products should be human milk- based. As a privately held, scientifically driven company, committed to improving premature infant nutrition, we are using human milk to change the standard of care in the NICU. Prolacta operates and/or owns milk banks that provide theng material for the products Prolacta sells.
Mission Statement
We discover, develop, and deliver life-changing solutions for critically ill babies and other vulnerable patients. We achieve this through innovative human milk research and leadership in quality and safety.
Vision Statement
Giving babies a brighter future by unlocking the biological power of human milk
Company Values
· Leads the Industry in Quality and Safety
· Succeed Together
· Advance the Science of Human Milk
· Improve Infant Well-Being
Benefits and OpportunitiesEmployee Benefits
Prolacta is committed to our employees, which is why we provide outstanding compensation and benefits, including:· Healthcare: Up to 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families – coverageng on the first day.
· Compensation: Competitive, performance-based raises and bonuses; discretionary stock options for all employees; 401(k) company match.
· Work/Life Balance: Four weeks PTO accrued within year 1; generous time off program for new parents; flexible work schedules; reserved parking for expectant moms; electric vehicle charging stations on site; company sponsored social events.
· Professional Development: Committed to helping our employees thrive with educational opportunities and leadership programs such as our Women’s Leadership Development Academy, Athari Council, and Educational Assistance Program.
· Community Engagement: Company-sponsored community service opportunities for our employees and paid time off to volunteer at your child’s school or at other community organizations
Career Opportunities- Becoming an expert in human milk science
- Working with cross functional teams.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform method qualification for assays used for the testing and release of clinical material. Work with external laboratories or internally for method feasibility and qualification.
- Transfer, develop, and validate methods in-house for GMP production per FDA guidelines, including Standard Operating Procedures preparation.
- Responsible for supporting human milk science research
- Interpret and evaluate characterization and analytical methods discussed in scientific journal articles
- Prepare and perform method evaluation, including the preparation of protocols & summary reports.
- Perform SDS-PAGE, ELISA, bioactive proteins and other biological assays to help better understand existing and new products in development.
- Support R&D development of human milk oligosaccharide processes including pilot scale studies, as well as support GMP production.
- Support the development/optimization of new methods for characterization of human milk.
- Compiling and analyzing test results
- Complete any other designated tasks or assignments, as necessary.
- Human milk components analysis by various analytical instruments, e.g. HPAE-PAD, LC-GC, LC-MS, etc.
- Perform protein, fatty acid or biological assays
- Understanding of principals of different test methods, including method development and qualification requirements
- High attention to detail, analytical, and process driven with ability to operate in a complex or matrixed work environment
- Good aptitude in instrument functionality and troubleshooting skills
- Good time management.
- Strong teamwork and organizational skills
- Good team spirit with a positive attitude
- Strong initiative and self-starter
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and organizational skills
- Working knowledge of food chemistry/microbiology, specifically milk testing, or infant formula testing preferred
- Must be capable of working in an FDA-regulated environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Power Point, Word, Excel, Access, Visio)
- Flexible with work hours which include some mandatory early morning and late-night shifts
- PhD or MS in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Chemistry or other applicable related fields, with minimum 1 to 2 years of experience (PhD) or 3 to 5 years of experience (MS) working in a research laboratory on related activities
- Ability to work independently or as a team to meet deadlines
- Detail oriented with critical thinking ability
- Adaptability and positive attitude
- Ability to multi-task
- Prior research on milk bioactive compounds, including the separation, purification, and quantification of oligosaccharides and bioactive compounds from human milk is preferred.
- Prior work using High Performance Anion Exchange with Pulse Amperometric Detector (HPAE-PAD), SDS-PAGE, ELISA, Protein and other biological assays
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Adaptability and a positive attitude
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Self-starter and self-motivated, with the ability to work proactively using own initiative
- Hands-on approach, with a ‘can-do’ attitude
Schedule · Monday – Friday (8am-5pm) · FLSA Status: Non-exempt Direct Reports · None Physical Requirements The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach, talk or hear. This position requires working in a laboratory setting for up to 8 hour shift. Laboratory testing includes the handling and disposal of hazardous materials. Office work will also be required for the analysis/reporting of data, writing/reviewing of reports and SOPs. The employee is occasionally required to taste, smell, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Employee will frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. Sedentary to light work; walking; talking; hearing; repetitive motions; stooping; kneeling; reaching; walking; pushing; pulling; visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal. Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to thisfication. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel sofied. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. “Prolacta Bioscience, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.” Prolacta Bioscience, Inc. is committed to a proactive program of affirmative action and diversity development. The Company will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion, gender, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or veteran status.