Senior Associate Scientist – Global Biologics, Swine

Role Description

Associate Scientist or Scientist – Global Biologics, Swine

Zoetis Veterinary Medicine Research and Development (VMRD), Swine Biologicals group in Kalamazoo, MI is seeking a scientist to work in a collaborative effort to further efforts in vaccine discovery and development to support introduction of novel products to the global swine industry. The successful candidate will be skilled in microbiology, bacteriology, molecular biology and/or vaccinology. The individual will have demonstrated skills and expertise in the theory and practical application of experiments and data interpretation. They will be hands-on in employing skills and experience in infectious disease (pathogenic) strain culture, manipulation and characterization, laboratory assay design and conduct, and use of novel methodologies to support the goals of vaccine development.

Position Summary

Zoetis is the largest animal health company in the world with an industry-leading research and development team. The Swine Biologicals group conducts basic and applied research to support the development of safe and effective vaccines for the global swine industry. We are recruiting a highly motivated scientist to contribute to advancing strategies in swine vaccine development at Zoetis.   

Position Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience in microbiology, especially as it relates to vaccine antigen identification, strain construction, propagation, and growth characterization. The individual will work independently as a scientist, and as a member of a cross-functional team, to develop research strategies and testable hypotheses, conducting basic and/or applied research to address unmet needs in swine vaccine development. They will be a key team member in progressing biologic product discovery and development in a timely and efficient manner.

The individual will provide hands-on technical experience and day-to-day apply a variety of microbiological, cellular, and molecular immunology or biology techniques. They will perform culture, manipulation, characterization, testing, and bench scale propagation in close interaction with downstream partner groups. They will perform preliminary assay and reagent development with knowledge of antibodies and/or protein interactions. They will using state of the art and novel techniques to better understand pathogenic bacteria and apply that knowledge to progress vaccine design. The individual will design and perform hypothesis based in vitro studies. Studies will be directed to the generation and identification of novel vaccine candidates.

The individual will consistently demonstrate a rational approach to problem solving, good laboratory safety awareness and notebook documentation, and regularly use the scientific literature to critically assess and enhance understanding of animal diseases and technologies to generate novel methods and testable hypotheses for new product ideas. The individual’s contributions will support evaluation of novel vaccines for the prevention of significant animal diseases using a variety of vaccine technologies. Understanding of microbial/cellular immunology will be applied.

The individual will use excellent communication skills and work across functional groups within Zoetis to further the research goals.

This position will not have any direct reports and will not require any significant travel, except as warranted to transfer technical methods.  May participate in GLP and/or GCP studies.

Preferred Experience

The successful candidate will have experience in conducting laboratory, hypothesis-based research. 

Expertise in maintenance of and experimentation with cell lines, bacteria, viruses, or other microbes including demonstratable experience with sterile culture techniques and microbiology and molecular biology or immunology assays. Direct experience with growth and manipulation of animal pathogens (bacterial, viral, parasitic), and first-hand knowledge of important diseases of relevance to veterinary medicine is desired.

Experience with molecular biology techniques including DNA extraction, PCR, and microbe manipulation, quantification, and cloning. Experience with genetic sequence analysis and knowledge of bioinformatics tools/databases, BLAST, DNASTAR/Lasergene. Experience with genomic based approaches used for identification of virulence factors and candidate gene-deleted or protein-based vaccine approaches is desired.

Familiarity with vaccine discovery process and ability to proactively apply practical laboratory experience in a cross-functional team is a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

BS with extensive training/experience in a microbiology/immunology