Contract Research Associate - Virology

Contract Research Associate – Virology (contract 3-4 months)

Why Work for Us?

At Candel, our people drive our success. We value diversity, collaboration, and bold thinking in a supportive, mission-driven environment. We are a high performing team, showing up for each other and stay focused on making a difference for patients and families. Our leadership is transparent and empowering, and our culture is built on trust, flexibility, and accountability, encouraging ownership and innovation every day.

Our Science: Advancing Cancer Immunotherapies

Candel is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing off-the-shelf, multimodal immunotherapies that stimulate personalized, systemic anti-tumor responses. Our platforms use genetically modified adenovirus and HSV constructs. With positive Phase 3 results for our lead candidate, it’s an exciting time to join us and help bring transformative cancer treatments to patients. Learn more:

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Research Associate with a strong foundation in virology to support the development of next-generation HSV-1 viral immunotherapy candidates. This individual will contribute to the enLIGHTEN™ Discovery Platform through hands-on experimental work, including viral vector testing, mammalian cell culture, and virology-specific assays. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for innovation and a desire to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional research environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the design, production, and testing of novel HSV-based viral vectors.
• Conduct classical virology techniques such as virus production, purification (e.g., ultracentrifugation), and titering.
• Execute virology-specific assays including plaque assays, TCID50, viral titration, and viral genome quantification using qPCR.
• Contribute to viral vector engineering and optimization of workflows.
• Maintain mammalian cell culture operations, including cryopreservation, routine culture, and cell banking.
• Perform in vitro to evaluate viral vector transduction and biological activity.
• Document experiments in electronic laboratory notebooks, analyze data, and prepare reports for internal review.
• Contribute to a scientific culture that values creativity, rigor, and innovation.

Qualifications:

Education:

• MS in Virology, Biotechnology, or related field with 1–3 years of industry experience, or
• BS with 3–5 years of relevant experience.

Experience and Skills:

• Hands-on experience with virus production, purification, and quantification techniques (e.g., plaque assays, TCID50, qPCR) required.
• Solid foundation in mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Familiarity with viral vector design and characterization, particularly HSV-based systems.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, GraphPad Prism, and SnapGene (preferred).

Work Environment:

This is a lab-based position in Needham, Massachusetts.