DJS Antibodies (An AbbVie Company) - Senior Scientist II - Antibody/Protein Biochemist

• A new role due to expansion.
• Based at the vibrant research community of Oxford.
• Comprehensive benefits package including car allowance.
• Amazing career opportunities in a growing division with exceptional training.

At DJS we are aspiring to create the next generation of antibody therapeutics, and in doing so, change the prognosis for patients living with life-changing conditions. We love working with people who share this vision and are passionate about pushing the boundaries of science to improve human health. Following our acquisition by AbbVie in October 2022 we are well positioned to use our technologies and expertise to pursue the toughest and most transformational targets. As we move forward our vision is to marry the biotech spirit of innovation and collaboration with big pharma expertise and experience to deliver life changing medicines for patients.

Job Objective:

The DJS-001 project is developing a first in class bispecific antibody to target myeloid cell-driven inflammatory disease. Through our novel biological insights, into the key drivers of myeloid cell recruitment and activation, we are developing a first in class therapeutic molecule capable of successfully targeting myeloid cell-driven inflammatory pathologies. which has exciting and wide-ranging applications in inflammatory disease and beyond.

A successful candidate will work within the DJS-001 project team with an initial focus on developing bispecific antibody formats to help tune the activity of the DJS-001 variable regions to achieve optimal biological activity in our translational assays leading to maximal clinical efficacy. A secondary focus will be to develop in-house techniques for the isolation of functionally intact solublized membrane proteins for biochemical assays.

Key Responsibilities:

• Bringing energy, enthusiasm and positivity to the company
• Develop the bispecific format for DJS-001 candidate selection
• Design, clone, express and purify a range of bispecific formats for testing in translational assays
• Produce bispecific control molecules to explore the underpinning biological activity of DJS-001
• Work with assay scientists to understand the key parameters for each format (such as target engagement) to further tune the molecule
• Performing critical laboratory experiments and analysis to inform key decision making on DJS-001
• Work as a key member of the DJS-001 project team and contribute to strategic decision making
• Keeping up to date with developments in the literature in relation to all aspects of the DJS-001 program
• As part of the wider DJS team work to develop in house methods for the purification of membrane and challenging protein antigens/targets
• Act as a go-to expert for antibody/protein biochemistry/expression and purification
• Mentor junior scientists from the bench side in new and novel biochemical techniques and methodologies
• Contribute ideas and suggestions to all DJS programs
• Develop and refine DJS internal laboratory capabilities
• Gather, analyse and present data from a variety of sources to the wider team and organisation

Skills and Experience:

• A PhD or equivalent level of experience of working in a research laboratory and experience of working within drug discovery organisation.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to drug development research
• Proven experience of therapeutic antibody drug discovery
• Proven expertise and experience in antibody cloning, expression, and purification. Bispecific construct design, cloning, expression, and purification. A range of protein expression and purification techniques, Antibody/bispecific format design and optimisation.
• Desirable skills include experience of Construct design, expression, and purification of functional non-antibody proteins. Construct design, expression, and purification of functional membrane proteins. Delivery of therapeutic format antibodies with drug like properties.
• Experience in managing outsourced projects.
• Experience with antibody binding techniques; ELISA, FACS, SPR etc. and Molecular/structural modeling and rational design.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer including disability/vets. It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran or a person’s relationship or association with a protected veteran, including spouses and other family members, or any other protected group status. We will take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified minorities, women, individuals with a disability, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans or active-duty wartime or campaign badge veterans. The Affirmative Action Plan is available for viewing in the Human Resources office during regular business hours.