Associate Scientist, Cellular/Molecular Biochemistry II

About the role

The Discovery Rheumatology group within AbbVie is responsible for identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of many rheumatic diseases. We have an exciting opportunity available for an Associate Scientist to join our team at our Cambridge site near Boston, MA.

Responsibilities

• Optimize & support cell-based functional studies: work within the target identification & validation team to develop and execute on multiple functional studies with primary human cells using real-time cell imaging and flow cytometric profiling to track cell growth, survival and migration.
• Broaden skills to enable effective planning and execution of high throughput screens and gain experience with the latest technologies in cell-based profiling.
• Perform analytical assays & support troubleshooting: conduct analytical assays to evaluate both RNA and protein composition from in vitro cell cultures and patient-derived biospecimens by qPCR and ELISA-type technologies, respectively. Generate high-quality data to support selection of disease relevant cell culture and stimulation conditions to drive target candidate nominations.
• Develop the skills to independently troubleshoot assays and instruments to ensure consistent quality data output.
• Analyze & communicate results: analyze study results, organize and document the results in an electronic lab notebook (ELN), and effectively communicate updates, troubleshooting, and results to the team. Interpret results and draw conclusions from multistage experiments with support from study owners and project leads. Communicate aberrant data and lab issues to management to gain input and alignment on solution.
• Collaboration: Collaborate closely with highly matrixed team members to support pipeline programs and participate in project teams as a study owner.

Requirements

• Degree in cell biology, immunology, pharmaceutical sciences or equivalent
• Bachelor’s Degree with 3 or more years’ experience or Master’s Degree (no additional experience)
• Strong technical background encompassing sterile tissue culture techniques, cell-based assays and cellular/molecular characterization methods.
• Hands-on experience with running and troubleshooting analytical techniques used for RNA and protein characterization such as qPCR, Western and ELISA as well as cell profiling techniques including flow cytometry and microscopy.
• Ability to work in cross-matrixed team supporting multiple projects and participate in project-focused teams.
• Technical ability to execute and troubleshoot experiments through rational and critical thinking.
• Must be highly organized and detail oriented.
• Eagerness to learn and apply new scientific techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong collaborative skills for working effectively within the team.
• Prior experience developing primary cell-based assays and executing high-throughput screening workflows is highly preferred.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree with 2 or more years’ experience or PhD (no additional experience)
• Experience with real-time cell imaging and flow cytometric profiling to track cell growth, survival and migration.
• Experience with qPCR, Western and ELISA-type technologies, respectively.
• Experience with cell profiling techniques including flow cytometry and microscopy.
• Experience with sterile tissue culture techniques, cell-based assays and cellular/molecular characterization methods.
• Experience with troubleshooting analytical techniques used for RNA and protein characterization.
• Experience with executing and troubleshooting experiments through rational and critical thinking.

Skills

• Real-time cell imaging
• Flow cytometry
• qPCR
• Western blotting
• ELISA
• Cell profiling techniques
• Tissue culture techniques
• Cell-based assays
• Cellular/molecular characterization methods
• RNA and protein characterization
• High-throughput screening workflows

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick)
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• 401(k)

Pay

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.

Schedule

This is a lab-based position and requires full-time on-site presence.