Senior Associate Scientist, Antibody Discovery

Why Patients need Research

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best in-class medicines to patients around the world

The B-cell technology group within Vaccines Research identifies and develops monoclonal antibodies to be used as tool reagents for characterization of vaccine antigens.

How you will participate

As a Senior Associate Scientist, you will be embedded in our operations and your work will be part of the on-going vaccine programs to deliver first in-class medicines in the upcoming years. You will be an essential member of the team, focusing on the screening, cloning and production of monoclonal antibodies. Purification and initial characterization using biochemical and biophysical technologies may be included based on your skill set.

With your knowledge of molecular biology, you will specifically support the antibody discovery efforts. Your creativity and experience will be essential for this task. Your ability to plan and coordinate will support the team in achieving short-term as well as long-term goals. Your prior work experience, scientific judgement will be essential in adjusting existing methods and developing new ones. With your scientific enthusiasm you will support the team in streamlining new technologies required to achieve new goals and to meet aggressive timelines needed to help our patients. This will include:

• Execute identification and generation of monoclonal antibodies based on sequence from single B-cell cloning using various molecular biology methods such as restriction enzyme or Gibson/in-fusion cloning. Screening of candidate antibody clones by ELISA or biolayer interferometry techniques is expected.

• Supporting the team in antibody characterization using binding and functional assays after introduction into the methods.

• Supporting the team in evaluations of new methods or technologies.

• Present experimental results at internal group meetings and project meetings as required.

• Experience in antibody/protein purification using AKTA systems is beneficial but not required.

• Maintain laboratory notebook in a detailed and descriptive manner. Keep current entries into the antibody and plasmid databases.

• Perform daily, weekly and monthly laboratory activities, such as periodic monitoring of equipment, periodic laboratory cleaning and managing the laboratory waste

• Satisfactorily complete all training in conformance with Departmental requirements. Where applicable, perform job responsibilities in compliance with cGMP/GLP and all other regulatory agency requirements

• Maintain a safe and productive work environment. Conducts all activities and makes decisions that are in accordance with Company policies & SOPs, Pfizer Values, & global regulatory guidelines, environmental guidelines, as appropriate.

• Perform other duties, such as inventory documentation, as assigned.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

B.S. in Molecular Biology, Immunology, or a related discipline plus 2 years of relevant experience. Background in working with microbial pathogens and sterile cell culture technique is mandatory.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

M.S. degree in Molecular Biology, Immunology, or a related discipline plus 4 years of relevant experience

• Candidate should be proficient in general molecular biology and immunology techniques
• Familiarity with mammalian cell culture as well as expression systems for antibodies and recombinant proteins
• Basic experience in cloning techniques, isolation of nucleic acids and construction/engineering of plasmid vectors
• Experience in PCR reactions is expected.
• Hands on experience in the following areas is preferred:
  • Use of DNASTAR Lasergene/Genedata software,
  • ELISA or Luminex microplate assays,
  • Protein quantitation (UV/colorimetric) assays and SDS-PAGE/western blot analysis
  • AEKTA based antibody purification (affinity, IEX, SEC).
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications and relevant scientific software, including bioinformatics and graphing/statistical analysis tools is expected.
• The incumbent must possess good verbal and written communication skills.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Sitting, standing, walking, light lifting (<25 lbs.), ability to travel, drive, ability to perform complex data analysis.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

Travel to regional, national and international meetings. Adherence to safe work practices and procedures required.

Work Location Assignment: On Premise

OTHER INFORMATION  
Work Location Assignment: On Premise

Other Job Details:

Eligible for relocation package

Eligible for employee referral bonus

#LI-PFE

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment.  As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations.  These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure.  Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act.  Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government.  If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status.  Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA.  Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.

Research and Development