Senior Scientist I - Immune Cell Depletion & Discovery Biology

Job Description

Conceive and implement novel experimental approaches to address key scientific questions in immune cell depletion. Investigate, identify, and optimize new methods, assays, and techniques relevant to pathogenic cell target discovery, depletion therapeutic development, and immunological mechanisms of action. Contribute scientific insights to projects, particularly in areas such as inflammatory pathways, immune cell trafficking, immune receptor modulation, receptor targeting, target density in tissues, and receptor occupancy. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including in vivo pharmacology, DMPK, and technology groups, to drive technical problem-solving and integrate efforts across projects. We are looking for a Senior Scientist I with a strong background in immunology, cell biology, and therapeutic discovery to join AbbVie’s Immunology Discovery organization. This lab-based position supports IND-enabling and early-stage discovery programs, as well as research and innovation in selective pathogenic cell depletion. The role involves hands-on experimentation using translational in vitro and ex vivo assays and PK/PD assessments, including autoimmune disease efficacy models, to evaluate depletion strategies and therapeutic candidates.

Responsibilities:

​​• Innovative Research & Method Development: Consistently demonstrate scientific initiative and creativity by exploring novel experimental approaches and developing new immunological methods to address complex research questions.

​• Autonomous Experimental Design & Troubleshooting: Operate with a high degree of autonomy in the lab, independently designing experiments and troubleshooting technical challenges with minimal supervision while maintaining rigorous scientific standards in support of pathogenic cell depletion programs.

​• Immunological Assays & Complex Cellular Systems: Design and execute a broad range of immunological assays, including ELISPOT, cytokine profiling, cellular potency assays, and whole blood assays, and use complex cellular systems to characterize immune responses, target engagement, depletion activity, selectivity, and recovery associated with therapeutic candidates.

​• PK/PD Relationships: Apply advanced analytical techniques, including multicolor flow cytometry for detailed cellular phenotyping and molecular assays such as digital PCR, qPCR, RNA extraction, and sequencing, to quantify biomarkers and gene expression changes and establish PK/PD relationships.

​• AI-Assisted Bioinformatics and Computational Target Discovery: Leverage AI-assisted bioinformatics and computational approaches to identify and prioritize disease-relevant targets for selective pathogenic cell depletion, integrating multi-omics and human disease data into experimentally testable hypotheses.

​• Data Analysis & Follow-Up Experiments: Analyze and interpret experimental data, draw meaningful conclusions, and proactively design follow-up experiments to test new hypotheses and guide subsequent project decisions.

​• Scientific Communication: Prepare clear and detailed technical reports and documentation of results, and effectively communicate findings through presentations and peer-reviewed publications, upholding AbbVie’s standards of scientific excellence.

​• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Actively participate in cross-functional team discussions and collaborative troubleshooting sessions with in vivo pharmacology, DMPK, and other internal teams, fostering a cooperative environment to overcome challenges and advance program goals.

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Qualifications

​​• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Immunology or a related biological science, with typically 10+ years (BS), 8+ years (MS), or 0 years (PhD) of relevant experience

​• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of immunology and related biological sciences, including cell biology and cell signaling. Experience in autoimmune disease biology, pathogenic immune cell populations, target validation, or immune cell depletion is preferred.

​• Technical Expertise (Immunological Assays): Hands-on experience with multi-color flow cytometry, cellular potency assays, cell depletion assays, and cytokine-based cellular assays.

​• Proven ability to design, execute, and troubleshoot complex experiments independently. Excellent organizational skills and meticulous documentation practices to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

​• Excellent scientific communication skills (written and oral) for effective report writing, data presentation, and team discussions.

​• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to contribute effectively in cross-functional team environments.

​• Demonstrated adaptability and curiosity, with a willingness to learn and apply new techniques and methodologies.

​Preferred/nice-to-have:

​• Technical Expertise in Live Cell Imaging (Incucyte, xCELLigence) and Molecular Biology (digital PCR (ddPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR), as well as RNA isolation)

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