Principal Research Scientist I, Peptide Discovery

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

AbbVie is seeking a distinguished Principal Scientist I to lead innovative peptide therapeutic programs within our Immuno-Pharmacology and Peptide Discovery team in the Immunology Discovery organization. This individual will provide both scientific and people leadership for peptide projects, driving efforts from early-stage discovery through IND-enabling development. Additionally, the role will lead platform initiatives to enhance AbbVie’s peptide capabilities across immunology, ensuring that cutting-edge peptide technologies are leveraged to address critical needs in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. As a key member of a cross-functional, matrixed team, the Principal Scientist I will promote robust data generation and effective communication to achieve critical program milestones. The successful candidate will collaborate widely with internal and external partners, representing their programs in internal governance reviews and at external scientific forums. Through strong leadership and deep expertise in immunology and peptide science, this individual will champion AbbVie’s patient-focused R&D mission by translating breakthrough peptide research into novel immunology therapies for patients.

Responsibilities: 

• Principal Investigator Leadership: Act as a principal investigator, spearheading peptide biology and immunology research programs while generating novel therapeutic ideas and guiding the scientific strategy to advance AbbVie’s peptide therapeutic platform.
• Drive Program Execution: Independently lead the scientific execution of one or more peptide therapeutic programs, taking accountability for experimental design, data integrity, and progress toward key project milestones.
• Lead Lab and Cross-Functional Activities: Contribute to program success through both hands-on laboratory research and cross-functional leadership. Lead cross-functional project teams to advance peptide therapeutic candidates from late discovery through IND-enabling studies to clinical transition, ensuring alignment across disciplines and timely achievement of key milestones.
• IND-Enabling Data: Develop, generate and oversee comprehensive IND-enabling data packages, including preclinical efficacy, pharmacokinetic, toxicology, and immunogenicity studies, to support regulatory submissions and enable the smooth transition of peptide candidates into clinical development.
• Peptide Optimization Strategy and Pharmacology: Guide the scientific planning for peptide lead optimization within Immunology team, integrating structure–activity relationship insights and cross-functional data to enhance candidate potency, selectivity, stability, pharmacokinetic properties and build PK/PD relationship for program advancement.
• Immunological Assays & Biomarkers: Design, oversee and execute immunological assays and biomarker strategies to elucidate mechanisms of action and pharmacodynamic responses for peptide therapeutics, providing hands-on technical guidance to ensure robust, reproducible results.
• Team Mentorship & Development: Mentor and supervise a high-performing team of scientists by providing technical guidance, fostering an innovative and collaborative laboratory culture, and supporting professional growth to drive scientific excellence.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Provide subject matter expertise in peptide biology and immunology to cross-functional teams and senior leadership, advising on key scientific questions and guiding program decisions with data-driven insights.
• Scientific Documentation: Ensure rigorous documentation of research activities by authoring and reviewing detailed technical reports, experimental protocols, and patent applications, while maintaining high standards of data integrity and quality.
• External Scientific Representation: Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at external scientific conferences, effectively representing AbbVie’s scientific excellence in peptide therapeutics and immunology.
• Innovation & Pipeline Expansion: Drive early-stage peptide discovery projects and platform innovation initiatives, evaluating and implementing emerging technologies and novel approaches to expand AbbVie’s peptide therapeutic capabilities and pipeline.

• BS, MS, or PhD in Pharmacology, Immunology, or a relevant biological science with typically 6+ (PhD), 12+ (MS), or 14+ (BS) years of industry experience.
• Strong Pharmacology background with demonstrated expertise in building PK/PD relationship, additionally experiences in oral therapeutics, inflammatory signaling pathways, immune cell trafficking, and/or cellular immunology is preferred.
• Technical expertise in a wide range of immunology lab methods including complex cellular assays, multi-color flow cytometry, digital droplet PCR, and RNA sequencing.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a principal investigator: originate scientific strategy, lead cross-functional research teams, and mentor scientists.
• Required experience leading IND-enabling preclinical programs and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to contribute to regulatory submissions.
• Recognized as an expert in their discipline internally and/or externally.
• Strong track record of scientific communication: publications, external presentations, and/or regulatory authorship.
• Demonstrated creativity and problem-solving, with the ability to propose and drive innovative scientific solutions.
• Required leadership experience: direct supervision, mentoring, and performance management of scientific staff.

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive program. ​

• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive program. ​

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. 

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

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