Turnstone Biologics (“Turnstone”), a privately held clinical stage biotech company, is developing breakthrough cancer immunotherapies by advancing two leading and complementary platforms that drive innate and adaptive tumor immunity, to provide benefit to the millions of cancer patients underserved by current treatment options. Turnstone’s proprietary vaccinia virus platform is engineered to drive coordinated immune activation, potent viral activity, and local expression of encoded therapeutics. The innovative TIL cell therapy platform leverages clinically validated treatment protocols and has been specifically designed to extend beyond the use of bulk TILs to enrich for the most relevant T-cells for tumor eradication, preserving broad antigen diversity and minimizing time to treatment for patients. The Company has an ongoing Phase 1/2a trial in solid tumors (RAPTOR) for its leading oncolytic virus candidate, RIVAL-01, and is expecting to file an IND for the lead TIL therapy candidate, TIDAL-01, in 2022.

At Turnstone, the science drives decision making, and our therapeutics are designed with the patient foremost in mind. We continue to build a world-class, high-performing company that embraces being a learning organization with a sense of urgency. Imagine coming to work every day where over-communication, transparency, teaching, listening, asking, thinking, working hard, and having fun are normal – actually, expected? Imagine having a coach, mentor, peers, and partners where candid feedback, self-improvement, risk taking, failing, learning from that failing, and succeeding thereafter are what we call ‘another day at Turnstone’? If you are a passionate person, and our science excites you – this opportunity may be for you.

Position Overview:

Turnstone is seeking an experienced and motivated Associate Scientist to join our team of immunologists driving the development of next gen TIL therapies for the treatment of cancer. The successful candidate will drive various aspects of in vitro studies by designing and executing experiments, analyzing data and presenting results in a collaborative team setting. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside senior researchers and project teams to perform discovery and development research that will ultimately create new medicines for cancer patients.

 

Turnstone’s T Cell therapy technology is based around a powerful new Selected-TIL process that revolutionizes the generation of tumor targeted T cells for adoptive cell therapy. Your role will be to work with a team of immunologists and molecular biologists to invent and develop these next gen T cell products for preclinical and clinical evaluation. There will be additional opportunities to continually refine the technology and manufacturing processes for this class-defining therapy. If you have experience with T cell manipulation, engineering, and culture, then this opportunity may be just what you are looking for.

You will work alongside senior researchers and supporting colleagues within project teams at our state-of-the-art facilities in San Diego and participate in designing and executing cell-based human immunology studies following established laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs). We have an open, transparent, and dynamic culture that embraces scientific excellence, integrity, urgency, partnerships with key stakeholders and continuous learning/improvements.

Passionate about being a part of a critical function of a growing company and continuous learning? This could be the opportunity for you! In this role, you will have the opportunity to develop your ability to think strategically and drive fast-paced execution as part of a matrixed team. With our company size and planned growth, there will be plenty of opportunities to grow and have a strong impact across the whole research group?

We are in the early stages of building strategies, structures and processes? so this role will be busy delivering and expanding capabilities. We also have opportunities for you to be a mentor to other team members. You would have the opportunity to create something new and grow your career right along with the company.

 

The Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

·       Assessment of TIL functionality using in vitro assays to measure cytotoxicity, expansion, and cytokine secretion

·       Molecular editing of immune cell populations and rapid expansion.

·       Assessment of TIL phenotype using flow cytometry

·       Coculture of TILs with tumor samples.

·       The design, execution, and analysis of experiments

·       Prepare data/figures to present to senior research staff

·       Mentoring junior team members

·       Write and review SOPs

·       Contribute to a team-centric culture that values transparency, innovation, integrity, and purpose.

 

Preferred Experience:

·       B.S, M.S or PhD in Biology with previous experience in immunology is required

·       Must have extensive experience with mammalian cell culture with excellent sterile technique

·       In depth experience with multi-parameter flow cytometry and phenotyping of T cell populations is preferred.

·       Experience with IncuCyte and/or xCelligence platforms is preferred

·       Experience with lentiviral and/or electroporation techniques for editing and engineering immune cells is a plus

·       Experience with immune cell culture is required. 

·       Experience with cell sorting and Ella is a plus.

·       Theoretical knowledge of T cell biology and a practical knowledge of T cell markers is a plus

·       Strong work ethic, positive team-oriented attitude is a must

 

Turnstone Biologics welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.  We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected will be invited for an interview.