Cell Culture
Cell Culture is a fundamental laboratory technique where scientists grow living cells in controlled conditions outside their natural environment (like in special containers in a lab instead of in the body). It's similar to growing plants in a greenhouse, but with microscopic cells instead. This technique is essential for developing new medicines, testing products for safety, and researching diseases. When you see this term on a resume, it means the candidate has experience keeping cells alive and healthy in a laboratory setting, which is a crucial skill in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, and medical research fields.
Examples in Resumes
Maintained and expanded Cell Culture facilities supporting cancer research projects
Performed Cell Culture techniques to test new drug candidates
Led Cell Culture operations for vaccine development team
Optimized Tissue Culture protocols for increased efficiency
Managed Cell Line development and maintenance for pharmaceutical testing
Typical job title: "Cell Culture Scientists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Cell Culture Scientists
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you design a cell culture facility from scratch?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss facility layout, equipment needs, contamination prevention, workflow optimization, and regulatory compliance. They should mention things like clean room requirements, equipment placement, and staff training needs.
Q: What strategies would you implement to improve cell culture yield and efficiency?
Expected Answer: Look for answers about optimizing growth conditions, monitoring methods, quality control procedures, and process automation. They should also mention cost management and team training aspects.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you handle contamination in cell cultures?
Expected Answer: Candidate should explain contamination prevention methods, detection techniques, and proper cleaning procedures. They should also know when to discard contaminated cultures and how to prevent future incidents.
Q: What quality control measures do you use in cell culture?
Expected Answer: Should discuss routine checks like microscope examination, sterility testing, and growth monitoring. They should also mention documentation practices and standard operating procedures.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What basic safety practices do you follow in a cell culture lab?
Expected Answer: Should mention wearing proper protective equipment, using sterile technique, proper waste disposal, and following basic laboratory safety rules.
Q: How do you maintain cells in culture?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic feeding schedules, checking cell growth, proper sterile technique, and basic maintenance procedures.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic sterile technique
- Cell maintenance and feeding
- Basic lab safety procedures
- Following written protocols
Mid (2-5 years)
- Troubleshooting culture problems
- Quality control procedures
- Equipment maintenance
- Protocol optimization
Senior (5+ years)
- Facility management
- Process development
- Team training and supervision
- Project planning and execution
Red Flags to Watch For
- No hands-on laboratory experience
- Lack of understanding of sterile technique
- Poor documentation practices
- No knowledge of lab safety procedures
- Unable to explain basic contamination prevention
Related Terms
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