Job description
About the Role
We are looking for a motivated Associate Scientist (mid-level) to support Drug Substance (DS) development activities for mRNA products. You will work within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to product, analytical, and process development, from experimental design to data interpretation and reporting.
Key Responsibilities
General Responsibilities (across all deliverables)
Acquire in-depth project knowledge by reviewing documentation and meeting minutes.
Complete required training and participate in method transfers (mRBNA purification, spTFF filtration, and analytical methods as applicable).
Participate in project and team meetings; present experimental data and provide technical input.
Draft, review, and execute experimental protocols in collaboration with the Principal Scientist.
Plan experimental work: define timelines, prepare calculation sheets, and coordinate material ordering.
Execute or supervise experiments according to protocols and ALCOA principles.
Coordinate designated work packages with the Principal Scientist, ensuring timely execution and effective collaboration with DS team members and support functions (e.g., ARD, process operations).
Dispatch samples to Analytical Research & Development (ARD) and jointly analyze results with the Principal Scientist and other stakeholders.
Record and report data in the electronic lab notebook (CDW) and other required repositories in the expected formats.
Participate in troubleshooting and brainstorming sessions; adapt experimental plans as needed.
Prepare, compile, and maintain execution-related documentation (batch records, CDW entries, reports, etc.).
Contribute to lab housekeeping and promote safe working practices.
Deliverable 1: Support Product Development
Lead or contribute to mRNA synthesis, purification, and TFF experiments and characterizations (DS development).
Prepare experiment-specific materials (calculation sheets, formulation flow-sheets) with the Principal Scientist.
Present formulation development data in dedicated project and DS team meetings.
Contribute to drafting and compiling batch records and other execution documents.
Deliverable 2: Analytical Support to DS Product Development
Perform analytical testing in the lab (per agreed test list for the project) and support real-time process analysis to enable rapid decision-making.
Lead or support analytical method transfers relevant to the project.
Analyze and interpret analytical data in collaboration with the Principal Scientist and other technicians/scientists.
Provide technical input during data review meetings and support the drafting of conclusions for analytical results.
Deliverable 3: Support Process Development
Plan process development experiments in collaboration with the process operations team.
Perform or supervise DS process development runs and characterizations according to protocol.
Prepare for Process Evaluation, Technical Risk Assessment, and stability lot studies.
Draft process development reports in collaboration with the Principal Scientist.
Present process development results in project and internal DS meetings.
Technologies & Methods
Process technologies:
Sterile filtration
TFF (tangential flow filtration)
IVT (in vitro transcription)
Multi-column chromatography
Analytical testing:
Reverse phase U(H)PLC
Oligo dT MCC
mRNA content by UV
Ribogreen
dsRNA quantification
RAMAN support
Profile Requirements
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biophysics, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
4–6 years of relevant experience in a similar role (associate scientist / scientist) in DS development or related areas.
Fluent in French (mandatory); English fluency is a strong asset.
Hands-on experience with DS process technologies listed above (sterile filtration, TFF, IVT, multi-column chromatography).
Experience in analytical testing related to purification and filtration (TFF) follow-up is a plus.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks in parallel.
Team player with good communication skills and a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
Why joining us?
Rapid growth: Amaris has doubled its workforce in Belgium in two years, providing numerous growth opportunities for employees.
Prestigious projects: Candidates will work with renowned clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and European institutions sectors on impactful missions.
International environment: An agile and dynamic structure promotes intrapreneurship and meritocracy, with international exposure at the heart of Europe.
Amaris Consulting is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to promoting diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. For this purpose, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, beliefs, age, marital status, disability, or other characteristics.
Who are we?
Amaris Consulting is an independent technology consulting firm providing guidance and solutions to businesses. With more than 1000 clients across the globe, we have been rolling out solutions in major projects for over a decade – this is made possible by an international team of 7,600 people spread across 5 continents and more than 60 countries. Our solutions focus on four different Business Lines: Information System & Digital, Telecom, Life Sciences and Engineering. We’re focused on building and nurturing a top talent community where all our team members can achieve their full potential. Amaris is your steppingstone to cross rivers of change, meet challenges and achieve all your projects with success.
At Amaris, we strive to provide our candidates with the best possible recruitment experience. We like to get to know our candidates, challenge them, and be able to give them proper feedback as quickly as possible. Here's what our recruitment process looks like:
Brief Call: Our process typically begins with a brief virtual/phone conversation to get to know you! The objective? Learn about you, understand your motivations, and make sure we have the right job for you!
Interviews (the average number of interviews is 3 - the number may vary depending on the level of seniority required for the position). During the interviews, you will meet people from our team: your line manager of course, but also other people related to your future role. We will talk in depth about you, your experience, and skills, but also about the position and what will be expected of you. Of course, you will also get to know Amaris: our culture, our roots, our teams, and your career opportunities!
Case study: Depending on the position, we may ask you to take a test. This could be a role play, a technical assessment, a problem-solving scenario, etc.
As you know, every person is different and so is every role in a company. That is why we have to adapt accordingly, and the process may differ slightly at times. However, please know that we always put ourselves in the candidate's shoes to ensure they have the best possible experience.
We look forward to meeting you!
