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Upstream Process Development Scientist Jobs in Boston, MA

UCB

Scientist II - Molecular Analytics & NGS

Boston, MA · On-site

$99K - $130K/yr

Make your mark for patients The Gene Therapy Vector Core group is seeking a Scientist II in Upstream Process Development and Bioprocess Analytics team to support genetic medicine projects and AAV ...

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Upstream Process Development Scientist information

See Boston, MA salary details

$22

$42

$66

How much do upstream process development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for upstream process development scientist in Boston, MA is $42.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.82 and $50.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an upstream process development scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Upstream Process Development Scientist, you need a strong background in bioprocess engineering, cell culture, and molecular biology, typically supported by a degree in life sciences or biochemical engineering. Familiarity with bioreactor systems, analytical instrumentation, and data analysis software, as well as experience with cGMP and regulatory guidelines, is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help drive innovation and collaboration in the lab. These skills are crucial for optimizing cell culture processes, ensuring product quality, and meeting timelines in biopharmaceutical development.

What are some typical challenges faced by an upstream process development scientist, and how are they addressed in the workplace?

Upstream Process Development Scientists often encounter challenges such as optimizing cell culture conditions for maximum yield, scaling up processes from bench to pilot or production scale, and troubleshooting variability in biological systems. These challenges are typically addressed through rigorous experimental design, close collaboration with cross-functional teams like analytical development and quality assurance, and leveraging data-driven approaches to problem-solving. Regular team meetings and access to advanced instrumentation also provide support, ensuring that scientists can quickly adapt to evolving project needs and industry standards.

What does an upstream process development scientist do?

An Upstream Process Development Scientist is responsible for designing, optimizing, and scaling up processes for the production of biological products such as proteins, vaccines, or antibodies. They primarily focus on cell culture, fermentation, and bioreactor operations to maximize yield and product quality. These scientists work closely with research and manufacturing teams to develop efficient and reproducible processes that can be transferred to large-scale production. Their work is essential in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries for the development of new therapeutics.

What is the difference between Upstream Process Development Scientist vs Downstream Process Development Scientist?

AspectUpstream Process Development ScientistDownstream Process Development Scientist
Focus AreaBioreactor cultivation, cell culture optimization, media developmentPurification, filtration, chromatography, product recovery
Skills & CertificationsCell biology, bioprocessing, GMP regulationsProtein chemistry, purification techniques, GMP compliance
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, bioreactors, pilot plantsLaboratories, purification facilities, pilot plants
Industry UsageBiopharmaceuticals, biotech companies, contract manufacturingBiopharmaceuticals, biotech companies, contract manufacturing

Both roles are essential in bioprocessing, with upstream scientists focusing on cell growth and media optimization, while downstream scientists handle product purification. They often collaborate closely within biopharmaceutical manufacturing to ensure efficient production and high-quality biologics.

What are popular job titles related to Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Boston, MA? For Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Boston, MA are:
Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Upstream Process Development Scientist job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 3% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $87,368 per year, or $42 per hour.

Scientist II - Molecular Analytics & NGS

UCB

Boston, MA • On-site

$99K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Make your mark for patients
The Gene Therapy Vector Core group is seeking a Scientist II in Upstream Process Development and Bioprocess Analytics team to support genetic medicine projects and AAV gene therapy platform development. The candidate will work across functional teams and will be responsible for developing analytical methods including short- and long-read NGS, cell-based potency assays for AAV, and ddPCR assay development. Additional responsibilities include supporting routine testing for characterization of research grade materials and for guiding process development activities.
Responsibilities:
  • Leading the development and execution of custom molecular assays including ddPCR and qPCR to support gene therapy analytics
  • Optimizing and applying cutting-edge next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to characterize impurities and assess heterogeneity in AAV drug products
  • Utilizing strong biology foundations to help guide or run cell-based potency assays to evaluate biological function and activity
  • Support gene therapy platform development through the application of evolving analytical methodologies and cross-team collaborations including capsid engineering
  • Function independently and cross functionally across various UCB teams (data scientists, cell biologists, disease area experts, CMC professionals, etc.)
  • Ability to manage priorities, engage/communicate in a multidisciplinary environment, and provide exemplary documentation of experimental work

Required Education, Skills and Experience:
  • MS degree in Molecular Biology, or related field, with over 10 years of experience - OR - PhD or Post Doc with 2+ years of experience.
  • 4+ years expertise in PCR based assay development and molecular characterization of AAVs or biomolecular characterization for gene therapies
  • 4+ years of NGS (long and/or short read technology) development experience (genomic DNA, targeted amplicon, small RNA, and RNA-seq) to enable genomic and transcriptomic analyses for early drug discovery and drug substance analytics
  • 4+ years of experience serving as a functional representative in multi-disciplinary drug discovery project teams

Preferred Education, Skills and Experience:
  • PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related field with direct AAV characterization experience supporting molecular analytics of AAV vectors
  • 6+ years of experience in molecular analytical characterization of AAV vectors
  • 6+ years of hands-on experience with NGS library preparation, Illumina and PacBio data acquisition and QC to support drug discovery activities
  • At least 6 years of experience in drug discovery or development in a pre-clinical setting with a focus on molecular characterization, analytical method development, characterizing impurities and identifying biological complexities.
  • Serve as the primary owner of developing, optimizing, and/or routinely conducting cell based potency assays to evaluate biological function and activity

Salary:
  • This position's reasonably anticipated base salary range is $99,200 to $130,200 per year. The actual salary offered will consider internal equity and may also vary depending on the candidate's region, job-related knowledge, skills and experience, among other factors.

Internal applicants should be in their current job for at least 12 months, must meet performance standards and are not on formal corrective/disciplinary process (PIP), warning, final warning, or compliance warning letters within the last 12 months. Please inform your Manager or your Talent Partner before applying to any internal job opportunities.
Unless explicitly stated in the description, this role is hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office, regardless of your current contractual agreement. If your current working arrangements differ, please contact your Talent Partner to discuss before submitting your application.
UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. UCB invites you to voluntarily self-identify during the application process. Provision of self-identification information is entirely voluntary and a decision to provide or not provide such information will not have any effect on your application for employment, your employment with UCB, or otherwise subject you to any adverse treatment. Any information you provide will be considered confidential and will be kept separate from your application and/or personnel file and will only be used in accordance with applicable laws, orders, and regulations.
Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on US-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com for application to US based roles. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.
Requisition ID: 93564
Recruiter: John Gasbarre
Hiring Manager: Richard Itwaru
Talent Partner: Sandra Rogers
Job Level: SA II
Please consult HRAnswers for more information on job levels.

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