Research Associate Scientist II

About AbbVie

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 including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.co.uk. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

About DJS Antibodies

At DJS Antibodies as part of AbbVie our ambition is to contribute world class novel antibody therapeutics for the treatment of severe diseases into AbbVie’s clinical pipeline. 

Working at DJS will involve coming into a stimulating and entrepreneurial work environment with excellent exposure to industry-leading experts. Being part of a small team means that you will be exposed to all aspects of R&D and the broader business. You will benefit from working with a great team, a competitive remuneration package and significant opportunities for career development.

At DJS-AbbVie, we are committed to advancing new therapeutics and translating novel immunological science into innovative R&D programs. As a UK-based R&D hub within AbbVie Immunology, we combine the agility, scientific focus and entrepreneurial spirit of a specialist discovery team with the scale, resources and ambition of a global pharmaceutical company. To date we have discovered a number of immunological drug candidates and continue to grow our exciting portfolio.

A critical part of achieving our vision is working with fantastic people, and as such we are looking for an enthusiastic and talented Associate Scientist II to join our Immunobiology team, whose goal is to deliver new insights into the biology and mechanisms of immunological disease, and valid targets for therapeutic intervention. For this role, candidates should be excited about working in a small, dynamic team; always keen to get involved with all aspects of immunobiology and drug discovery research; be a team player. This position represents an excellent opportunity for someone looking to solidify their career within an industry laboratory research environment working on innovative projects whilst developing a variety of new skills.

The initial focus of a successful candidate will be to develop and use assays, including complex in vitro models, to answer focused biological questions. You will need to work independently on primary cell culture, flow cytometry, ELISA, imaging, and various assay techniques, with appropriate guidance from senior team members.

The successful applicant will be a practical person who is organised, detail-oriented and efficient, and who enjoys working on experimental design and interpretation, and is excited about understanding novel biology. Some previous experience in basic immunological techniques is required.

At DJS we want to foster innovative scientists performing cutting edge science and as such a successful applicant will have numerous opportunities to grow. You will have the space to develop as an increasingly independent experimentalist, and get exposure to scientists from a range of background including bioinformaticians, clinical scientists, pathologists and drug discovery experts including with colleagues in our on-site Novel Therapeutics group in Oxford. You will be expected to work closely with Abbvie R&D colleagues, gaining experience in cross-border collaboration, and will have the opportunity to travel to AbbVie’s US research sites and network with scientists across different disease areas and disciplines.

Successful applicant's key responsibilities

• Bringing energy, enthusiasm and positivity to the company
• Maintenance of cell cultures including advanced primary cells.
• Techniques such as flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and ELISA
• Troubleshooting and execution of co-cultures and complex in vitro model systems
• Work as a key member of the Oxford immunobiology team but collaborating and working on whatever project is necessary to advance our therapeutic programs.
• Autonomously performing critical laboratory experiments and interpreting the data to drive the next series of experiments you will run and strategic decisions within you team.
• Keeping up to date with developments in the literature in relation to technical aspects of drug discovery technologies
• Day-to-day laboratory management as part of the team e.g. maintaining a safe and clean working laboratory environment, re-ordering laboratory consumables
• Establishing and maintaining quality sample archives
• Gathering, analysing and presenting data from a variety of sources to the Oxford team as well as to US-based colleagues.
• Critical and impartial review of self and peer generated laboratory data
• Maintenance of laboratory experimental records

• Bsc in a relevant discipline plus 2 years of industry experience, which may include placement years or internships, or an Msc degree.
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to drug discovery and drug development research
• Proven recent experience in
  • Mammalian cell culture
  • Cell biology techniques (such as flow cytometry; ELISA; fluorescence microscopy)
• Evidence of excellent organizational and interpersonal skis including
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to work efficiently with strong attention to detail
  • Ability to build effective working relationships
  • Laboratory method development
  • Ability to work flexible hours when required
  • Proven written and oral communicative ability
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Strong IT skills
• Desirable skills
  • Experience in running functional in vitro or ex vivo biological assays on primary cells.
  • Good knowledge of statistics

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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