Senior Scientist I, HIV Antibody Discovery and Development

As an organization whose mission is to translate science into global public health impact, working on vaccines and therapeutics, IAVI has a vaccine policy which states that subject to applicable law, we require all U.S. and Puerto Rico based employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption or accommodation. We are committed to supporting our employees during this process as we work to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

Position Description

Job Title: Senior Scientist I, HIV Antibody Discovery and Development
Location: Neutralizing Antibody Center (NAC), San Diego, CA
Reports to: Principal Scientist, Antibody and Vaccine R&D 

Position Summary: 

Are you an experienced Sr Scientist who is eager to help translate science into global health solutions?

IAVI is seeking a Senior Scientist to lead efforts in HIV and EID vaccine design and antibody therapeutics. The Sr. Scientist leads a sub-team focused on preclinical assessment of vaccine candidates, broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody discovery from human donors, and enhancing antibody delivery strategies. Depending on need, Sr. Scientists will work with a multidisciplinary team comprised of local and external academic collaborators as well as researchers at other IAVI office locations. As a team lead, the Sr. Scientist is responsible for designing, overseeing, and coordinating study designs which includes immunization strategies, antibody isolation, and functional characterization, FACS-based immunological analysis, antibody passive transfer and challenge studies in relevant animal models, and viral sequencing. The candidate also serves as a scientific liaison between IAVI and relevant partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement the overall scientific direction and rationale for IAVI’s development of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies and humoral immune response evaluation.
• Independently oversee and lead hypothesis driven research with input from senior team members.
• Oversee production and purification of relevant antigens/baits required for cell sorting.
• Apply innovative antibody discovery techniques to isolate and characterize novel bnAbs from human donor samples.
• Perform and analyze viral sequencing data utilizing methods such as SGA and PacBio HiFi sequencing.
• Manage and train a small team of laboratory personnel to achieve scientific objectives.
• Oversee drafting and submission of manuscripts to report on scientific findings.
• Prepare and present research updates for internal meetings, external partnership meetings, and international conferences.
• Support in drafting of grants and grant update reports.

Education and work experience:

• PhD in biology with a focus in virology or immunology is required, preferably with a strong background in bioinformatics.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant post-PhD experience is required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience in high throughput antibody functional screening assays, including neutralization assays and various binding assays is required.
• Experience with bacterial and mammalian cell culture is required.
• A strong publication record, such as published papers with lead authorship in international peer reviewed journals is required.
• Experience with immunoglobulin and viral sequencing and the analysis of NGS data is highly preferred.
• Experience in recombinant protein expression and purification is preferred.
• Previous experience in managing direct reports is highly preferred.
• Strong background in high-parameter flow cytometry is highly preferred.
• In depth understanding of technical and logistical challenges of developing HIV vaccines is preferred but not required.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced quickly changing environment.
• Effective teamwork skills, collaborating with both local colleagues and external partners.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse colleagues.
• Professional level verbal and written communication skills.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world