Sr. Scientist, Protein Screening & Automation, Disruptive Technologies

Job Description

R3 – High-Throughput Screening, Discovery Biologics Disruptive Technologies

The Discovery Biologics Department is seeking an exceptional Senior Scientist to join the Disruptive Technologies Group, which advances and utilizes cutting-edge technologies to build a robust portfolio of innovative biotherapeutics. This scientist will develop and execute emerging scalable protein production, screening and characterization methods, generating large-scale and high-quality datasets to support pipeline projects and technology development work. The role is based at our Cambridge, MA facility.

We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Our teams combine leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class R&D with the purpose of turning breakthrough science into life-changing medicines.

We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute rapid and high-throughput binding and functional measurements of protein biologics
• Advance assays and carry out small-scale cell-free protein synthesis-based screening to support portfolio programs
• Develop and optimize protocols for automated workflows
• Support development of lab-based methods to improve capabilities
• Advance and apply scalable, fast, parallelizable assays to measure protein properties at very high scale
• Collaborate cross-functionally with computational and experimental scientists to impact both portfolio programs and technology development
• Author and contribute to patents and peer-reviewed publications
• Present research findings at internal and external meetings
• Strengthen the team, mentoring junior scientists and exemplifying a culture of collaboration, accountability, and inclusion

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Biology, Engineering/Bioengineering, Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry or related STEM discipline with demonstrated experience in assay development and automation
  (MS with 4+ years or BS with 7+ years of equivalent industry experience also considered)

Required Skills

• Strong hands-on experience with laboratory automation (e.g., liquid handling, acoustic dispensing)
• Expertise in quantitative protein characterization using one or more of: miniaturized assays, oligopool-based assays, lab-on-a-chip, microfluidics, or library-display-based methods
• Expertise planning and developing rapid, plate-scale assays (e.g. competitive ELISA, protein stability, FRET/fluorescence polarization, etc)
• Strong foundation in molecular biology, protein expression, and biochemical characterization
• Proficiency in programming languages for data analysis (e.g., Python)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred Skills

• Experience with cell-free expression systems
• Expertise in library DNA construction and NGS
• Familiarity with machine learning approaches
• Experience developing and multiplexing functional assays
• Experience with miniaturization strategies for scalable screening

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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