Associate Scientist, Microbiology

About the role

As an Associate Scientist, you will be at the center of our operations and you'll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. Your work in the Analytical R&D Microbiology Strategy & Testing organization helps enable development of biological therapeutics at Pfizer. Your contributions are part of a group performing microbiology identification, testing, and method qualifications to support multiple sites in the Pfizer network. You will be responsible for Environmental Monitoring (EM) of manufacturing facilities, waters, and compressed gases at the site. The Associate Scientist is responsible for utilizing established microbiological methodologies to support GMP in-process and research & development testing of clinical supplies. You will become proficient in aseptic lab technique and facility gowning to thrive in this fast-paced environment. Your strong foundation in general scientific practice, its principles and concepts will help in meeting critical deadlines. You will be relied on as a technical contributor to assess the assigned tasks and make decisions that involve direct application of your knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Exercise and build basic team effectiveness skills (e.g., commitment, feedback, consensus management) within the work group.
• Review and contribute to technical documents, including validation protocols and reports, analytical test procedures, investigation reports, monitoring trend reports, and change controls.
• Directly interact with multiple department team members, including presentation of data.
• Complete all Good Manufacturing Practice (part of GxP) and safety training in compliance with departmental requirements and follow appropriate safety practices in the workplace.
• Perform various experiments for microbial analysis, qualification/validation, and characterization of biological therapeutics.
• Perform and document environmental monitoring of manufacturing areas and related Microbiological activities.
• Conduct all work according to appropriate Standard Operating Procedures following Good Manufacturing Practices/Good Laboratory Practices (GMP/GLP) requirements and ensure integrity of all data generated and documented.
• Independently analyze and provide conclusions regarding data generated.
• Plan and prioritize assigned testing activities.
• Present problems and propose solutions in discussions with group members.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Bachelor's degree in microbiology, biochemistry, biology, or related field + 0 - 2 years of experience.
• Excellent documentation skills with high attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and effective interpersonal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated and highly effective in a team-based environment
• Ability to follow established procedures under minimal supervision

Nice-to-Have

• 1+ years' experience with Quality Systems in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) environment
• Experience with laboratory data systems such as Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Hands-on experience or working knowledge in pharmaceutical industry and handling of analytical instruments
• Some knowledge of drug development process for progression of biological candidates
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
• Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance productivity. Demonstrated curiosity for exploring how these tools can improve outcomes and understanding of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use

Pay & Benefits

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $60,200.00 to $100,400.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer's Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 7.5% of the base salary. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Schedule

This is typically a Monday-Friday schedule, first shift. Occasional weekend work or off-shift hours work is required per business need.

Work Location

On Premise. Candidate must be able to qualify on cleanroom gowning to conduct weekly monitoring of the manufacturing areas.

Physical Requirements

Position requires occasional light lifting and periods of standing, sitting or walking. Laboratory testing involves repetitive operations using hand-held instruments (micropipettes).