Associate Principal Scientist, Screening & Compound Profiling

Job Description

Job Description:
The Screening & Compound Profiling group at our Research Laboratories site in Rahway, NJ is looking for a highly motivated, talented and innovative Associate Principal Scientist with a strong background in biochemistry and mass spectrometry to participate on cross-functional teams and drive drug discovery programs across multiple therapeutic areas.  Successful individuals will employ a combination of scientific tools and methodologies, including but not limited to activity & binding assay development, high-throughput screening, compound profiling for SAR, and mechanism of action studies.  Scientists will be immersed in a multi-disciplinary environment [collaborating with Quantitative Biosciences, Data, AI & Genome Sciences (DAGS), Discovery Chemistry, Computational Structural Chemistry and project team colleagues] charged with progressing hits using detailed biochemical and cellular mechanistic profiling paired with informatics and high-throughput experimentation.  Output from such work will enable drug discovery programs across oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiometabolic and infectious disease.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, plan and execute robust scientific research activities utilizing biochemical assays and mass spectrometry ‘at-scale’ to accelerate lead discovery.

• Represent Screening & Compound Profiling on cross-functional project teams influencing strategic direction with data/progress updates & insight.

• Contribute to a high-performance culture of inclusion, collaboration, engagement and self-accountability.

• Promote the external reputation of our department by contributing to publications and participating in external symposia.

Minimum education required:
Post-graduate degree in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Cell Biology or equivalent, including years of relevant in vitro assay and industry cross-functional team experience as appropriate: Ph.D. (3+ years), M.Sc. (7+ years) or B.Sc. (10+ years).

Required Skills & Experience:

• Extensive development of biochemical assays for soluble (eg. kinases, phosphatases) and membrane (e.g. GPCR’s, receptor kinases) proteins.

• Miniaturization of biochemical assays (384w/ 1536w) using liquid handlers and mass spectrometry detectors (electrospray, MALDI) to support the sensitive screening & profiling of diverse analytes including small molecules, peptides, lipids & proteins.

• Guidance of scientific operations, strategy, and communication with a track record of collaboration on multidisciplinary teams in one or more therapeutic area(s).

• Interaction with therapeutic areas and chemistry across high-throughput screening, hit-to-lead and/or lead optimization discovery space. 

• Demonstrated ability to work under tight timelines and independently execute experimental tasks. 

• Passion for fostering a diverse and inclusive culture and contributing to the growth and success of colleagues.

• Strong external reputation as evidenced through publications, presentations, and/or scientific community engagement.

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with a proven track-record of maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.

• Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Expertise in enzymology using steady-state, pre-steady state, and mechanism of action studies to fully characterize target-ligand interactions. 

• Application of laboratory automation to biochemical assay and mass spectrometry systems in both walk-up and integrated platform scenarios.

• Interaction with affinity-based screening teams/technologies (DEL, AS/MS, mRNA-Display) and adjacent functions (protein generation, biophysics).

• Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose, troubleshoot and resolve problems with MS instrumentation.

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NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer e