Mammalian Cell Culture
Mammalian Cell Culture is a fundamental laboratory technique used in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to grow and maintain cells from mammals (like humans or mice) in controlled conditions. Think of it as a way to 'farm' living cells in the lab that can be used to develop and test new medicines, produce vaccines, or study diseases. This skill is essential in drug development, vaccine production, and medical research. Similar terms used in the industry include "tissue culture" or "cell culture." It's like maintaining a miniature living factory of cells that can produce valuable proteins or test how well new drugs work.
Examples in Resumes
Maintained sterile Mammalian Cell Culture facility and successfully cultured over 20 cell lines
Performed drug screening using Cell Culture techniques on human cell lines
Optimized Tissue Culture protocols resulting in 30% increased protein production
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 troubleshoot cell contamination issues in a large-scale culture facility?
Expected Answer: A senior scientist should discuss systematic approach to contamination control, including sterile technique validation, staff training programs, environmental monitoring, and implementing corrective actions while maintaining production schedules.
Q: How would you approach scaling up a cell culture process from laboratory to production scale?
Expected Answer: Should explain considerations like maintaining cell viability during scale-up, process consistency, cost efficiency, and regulatory compliance, while demonstrating experience with both small and large-scale operations.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors do you consider when optimizing cell growth conditions?
Expected Answer: Should discuss key factors like temperature, pH, growth media composition, and cellular density, showing understanding of how these affect cell growth and protein production.
Q: How do you maintain sterility in cell culture work?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic sterile technique, use of biological safety cabinets, proper personal protective equipment, and regular cleaning/maintenance procedures.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic components of cell culture media?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that media typically contains nutrients, growth factors, and antibiotics, demonstrating basic understanding of cell growth requirements.
Q: How do you count cells and determine cell viability?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic cell counting techniques using a hemocytometer and vital stains, showing familiarity with routine laboratory procedures.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic sterile technique
- Cell counting and viability assessment
- Basic media preparation
- Routine cell maintenance
Mid (2-5 years)
- Troubleshooting contamination issues
- Process optimization
- Multiple cell line handling
- Documentation and record-keeping
Senior (5+ years)
- Process scale-up expertise
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Regulatory compliance knowledge
Red Flags to Watch For
- No hands-on sterile technique experience
- Unable to explain basic contamination prevention
- Lack of documentation experience
- No understanding of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)
- Poor attention to detail in previous lab work
Related Terms
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