Sr Scientist or Principal Research Scientist I, Antibody Repertoire Engineering and Screening

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 Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

The Biotherapeutics group within AbbVie Discovery is seeking a highly motivated Principal Scientist I/ Senior Scientist to join the In Vivo Antibody Discovery team at the AbbVie Bioresearch Center (ABC). The ABC site, based in Worcester, MA, offers a unique setting where biotherapeutics drug discovery, development and manufacturing coexist in one location.  Our team interacts with multidisciplinary groups across AbbVie focused on developing solutions for Immunology, Neurology, Oncology, Virology, Eye and Aesthetic diseases and conditions. We utilize innovative approaches for antibody discovery including in vivo technologies, custom immunization strategies, advanced multiplex screening assays and best-in-class automation platforms to enable successful antibody discovery against complex targets.

As a member of the in vivo antibody discovery group, you will be responsible for the development and optimization of novel antibody discovery platforms such as mammalian display technologies. The successful candidate will effectively generate original technical ideas and research strategies developing and pairing microfluidics, library-based screening approaches and immune repertoire analysis. This is an exciting opportunity to drive antibody discovery programs within a multidisciplinary research group in an innovative, fast-paced team environment.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the advancement and implementation of emerging technologies and platforms for discovering antibodies from immunized animals or CHO display libraries


• Generate antibody libraries using CHO display platform and CRISPR/Cas9 or similar techniques. 


• Analyze NGS and 10x Genomics experiments to generate sequence data to characterize the antibody repertoire at different stages of antibody discovery including library QC


• Utilize immune profiling software to enable antibody mining and advice on clonal selection


• Additional skills to perform characterization including assays such as flow cytometry, ELISA, homogeneous assays and microscopy


• Regular presentation of data in team meeting, effective communication, and coordination of work in highly matrixed project team environment









 
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Qualifications

Education: 

• PhD or equivalent in immunology, molecular biology, protein/antibody engineering or related fields with typically 0+ years of industry experience; or master’s degree with typically 8+ years of industry experience; or bachelor's degree with typically 10+ years of industry experience.









 
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Required:

• Expertise in immunoglobulin genetics and antibody biology including antibody repertoire analysis and clustering with NGS or 10x Genomics datasets from immunized animals


• Experience with single-cell sample preparation, sequencing, and analysis of VH/ VL genes


• Experience in developing and utilizing CHO or other mammalian-display platforms to screen immune repertoire outputs or antibody libraries


• Adept in targeted gene integration techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9, RMCE, or other relevant technologies


• Experience in evaluating stable cell transcript quality and purity


• Strong understanding of the therapeutic antibody discovery process


• Demonstrated ability to provide innovative solutions to sequencing and molecular biology challenges


• Exhibit a can-do attitude with excellent interpersonal and communication skills









 
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Key AbbVie Competencies:

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of the team to enable higher performance.


• Learns fast, grasps the “essence”, and can change the course quickly where indicated.


• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.


• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.


• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.









 
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Position will be filled at level commensurate with extent of education, experience, and accomplishment 
Sr Scientist I, Sr Scientist II, or Principal Research Scientist I

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 programs. ​

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

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 committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives, serving our community and embracing diversity and inclusion.  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 protected veteran, or any other legally protected group status.