Senior Principal Scientist (Immunology)

Company Description

Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) is an innovative, research-based, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company based in China and the United States focused on bringing transformative medicines for oncology, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders to patients in China and around the world. Our goal is to leverage our competencies and resources to positively impact human health worldwide.

Founded in 2014, our experienced team has secured partnerships with leading global biopharmaceutical  companies, generating a broad and late-stage pipeline of innovative drug candidates. Based on our proven  track record of  success, Zai Lab has earned the reputation as a trusted partner of choice for global biopharmaceutical companies seeking to not only access the Chinese market but also find a long-term strategic partner for global clinical development.  Our unique business model builds on our in-licensed assets and innovative partnerships to expand our internal discovery and development capabilities and has created a portfolio of potential best-in-class and/or first-in-class therapies. Zai currently has four products on the market in China

Zai Lab was successfully listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in September 2017 and completed secondary listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange in September 2020. In 2022, Zai Lab became dual-primary listed on both the Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. Since its inception, Zai Lab has expanded significantly with several offices across China. In 2021, Zai Lab established its U.S. Headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  As of January 2022, the Company has a global team of approximately 2000 employees.

Job Description

This Senior Principal Scientist will have a unique opportunity to support immunology and immuno-oncology efforts from target identification through development and IND filing. He or she will provide scientific expertise and design and execute experiments to understand mechanism of action and biology rationale to guide advancing our first-in-class and best-in-class antibody therapeutics to the clinic. This role will also summarize these findings in reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, this role will support the BD team in evaluating in-license and partnership opportunities. This position reports to the Executive Director, Preclinical Research and will be based in our office in San Diego, California. 

• Design and execute experiments for biologics programs, collaborating with cross-functional teams to advance biologics candidates toward human clinical trials.
• Prepare technical reports on studies, contribute to IND package preparation, draft publications, and present scientific findings at internal and external meetings.
• Contribute to scientific efforts for target identification and validation in biologics discovery.
• Identify and incorporate innovative technologies to enhance the assessment of mechanisms of action studies.
• Ensure the timely delivery of comprehensive data sets to support critical decision-making processes.
• Maintain high-quality research standards externally at CROs, providing flexible guidance to ensure productivity.
• Collaborate with the business development team to identify high-value in-licensing and collaboration opportunities for both biologics and small molecule opportunities in the immunology and immuno-oncology fields.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• PhD in Immunology, Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular Biology, or a related field.
• Postdoctoral training with 5 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry working in immunology focused therapeutics targeting diseases such as atopic dermatitis, IBD and lupus; or an equivalent combination of advanced education, training, and experience.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple time zones.

PREFERRED

• Up-to-date knowledge of immunology research, including drug discovery and development, with a focus on biologics discovery and the use of in vitro and in vivo models to assess biological activity.
• Demonstrated success in supporting drug development programs from discovery to clinical trials.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for effective interaction with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional teamwork, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Experience with IND writing and filing a plus.
• Demonstrates the highest personal values and ethical standards.

Additional Information

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $176K and $205K/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individual