Senior Scientist II- Hepatocyte and Liver Tissue Engineering

About You: You are a collaborative, impact-focused problem solver who wants to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to creating and commercializing novel approaches to global challenges in healthcare and sustainability. You want the freedom to explore, to push the boundaries of what is possible, and to use your ambition to tackle challenging projects in a fast-paced, industry-focused environment. You enjoy working with diverse groups of people and leveraging your expertise to create innovations that can change the world. About this role: As Senior Scientist II, you will provide scientific and technical leadership for the hepatocyte engineering activities of a multi-institutional, federally funded program to develop engineered liver tissue for the treatment of liver failure. The Chen Lab develops vascularized tissues and engineered organs by integrating stem cell engineering, biofabrication, vascular biology and in vivo models. In this role, you will establish and advance methods to expand, engineer and characterize functional human hepatocytes, including approaches that modulate their recognition by the immune system, and integrate these cells into the program’s engineered tissue and in vivo studies. This is a laboratory-based position: you will design and personally conduct the core experiments of the hepatocyte workstream. Reporting to the Senior Director of Translational R&D and working closely with Core Faculty member Professor Christopher Chen, you will join cross-functional research teams spanning the Wyss Institute, Boston University and partner institutions. What you'll do:  • Hepatocyte Expansion and Engineering: • Independently Lead scientific execution, experiment planning and analysis for the program’s hepatocyte workstream, and conduct its core experiments; Solves novel technical challenges. • Establish, optimize and scale methods for the expansion, maturation and long-term maintenance of functional human hepatocytes. • Develop and apply genetic engineering strategies, including CRISPR/Cas9-based editing and transgene delivery, to modulate the immunogenicity of hepatocytes and other cell types used in engineered liver tissue. • Guide assay development and the characterization of hepatocyte identity, function and immune phenotype, including albumin and urea secretion, cytochrome P450 activity, and in vitro immune response assays. • Conduct data analysis on all experiments performed and communicate data and results to the larger team. • Tissue Integration: • Collaborate with the biofabrication, vascularization and in vivo teams to integrate engineered hepatocytes into tissue constructs, and evaluate their engraftment and function in animal models. • Collaborate with internal and external partners on experimental execution, analytical characterization and cross-functional scientific strategy. • Program Collaboration, Leadership and Translation: • Leads milestone planning, sponsor reporting and program reviews for projects within the hepatocyte workstream. • May be lead author in publications. • Drives translation of key findings to actionable translation approaches and IP strategy in concert with Office of Technology Development • Identifies and develops new cross functional partnerships internally and externally • Communicate progress, technical risks and recommendations to Professor Chen, program leadership and partner investigators. • May supervise a team of technicians. Provides mentorship and training to research assistants, students and other scientists in hepatocyte culture, engineering and characterization methods. • May be granted PI rights on multiple grants. Contribute to grant writing, including proposals that extend the capabilities developed in the program • Plans and maintains budget for appl