Associate Principal Scientist

Job Description

Our company has a rapidly growing interdisciplinary team of scientists in London and exciting plans to expand our London presence, initially at the Francis Crick Institute as part of our ‘Skylab’ expansion in 2024, and from 2027 in our new ‘state of art’ London Discovery Research Centre and UK headquarters at the hub of London’s Knowledge Quarter. This will be home to approximately 180 scientists alongside other colleagues in clinical, regulatory and business roles, including marketing, finance and administration.

Role Overview:

We are looking for a laboratory-based Associate Principal (Associate Director level) to join our company’s Discovery Biologics team at the Francis Crick Institute, London.

Discovery Biologics’ aim is to discover and develop novel, innovative therapeutics in the field of Immunology, Inflammation and Neuroscience. The Discovery Biologics team is seeking a highly motivated scientist with a passion for delivering innovative medicines to patients, to drive biologics discovery, protein production, purification, engineering and characterisation.

You will be laboratory based and responsible for designing, conducting, and analysing in vitro experiments to assess the function of our pre-candidate molecules. Your research will also help dissect the mechanism of action of these novel therapeutics. You will regularly present your research findings in small team meetings, wider-group discussions and to cross-functional stakeholders. Additionally, you will be expected to review emerging literature and internal data to assist in identifying new targets and contribute to target validation activities.

The role is a key interface with the Immunology, Neuroscience and other drug discovery and development scientists and functions across our company as well as with external academic and industrial partners.

What you will need to be successful in this role:

• We recognise 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 behaviours in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission.
• Succeeding in this role will require excellent communication skills and both independent initiative and a strong team work ethic.
• A high level of motivation with the ability to deliver to tight timelines and work effectively across departments and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Passion for innovation and problem-solving.
• Good organisational, time management and record keeping skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate a “one-team” mindset by proactively engaging in lab and department initiatives.
• Support drug discovery programs through design, engineering and characterisation of biologics, including antibodies and multi-specific molecules.
• Be proactive in review of cutting-edge technologies in the field to bring the next advances in protein engineering and antibody discovery that will continuously improve our platform and efficiencies.
• Working cross-functionally, the successful candidate may co-lead discovery programmes from tool-molecule generation through preclinical development of therapeutic candidates.
• Serve as Discovery Biologics representative to advance programs from early discovery to development and / or start of IND-enabling studies.

Required Experience:

Essential Experience

• PhD in Biochemistry / Immunology / Neuroscience / Molecular Biology (or related field) and a minimum of 5+ years of industry experience, or a M.Sc. and a minimum of 9+ years industry experience, or a B.Sc. with 12+ years of industry experience.
• Deep scientific knowledge across some of the workflows and domains integral to the discovery of protein therapeutics for example: antibody discovery, immunology, protein expression/purification, antibody or protein design and engineering, FACS, protein characterisation or developability assessment.

Preferred experience:

• Experience of developing antibody-based therapeutics.
• Clear evidence of driving scientific or platform innovations.
• Experience in protein design, production and characterisation of antibodies, or antibody-like scaffolds using common expression systems (e.g. mammalian) and purification methods (e.g. AKTA systems), and the ability to profile constructs (e.g. SPR; biochemical assays)
• Experience in antibody discovery technologies including hybridoma, phage display, B cell culture and flow cytometry would be beneficial.
• Experience of antibody discovery digital skills and awareness e.g., using NGS and other large data, working with data scientists and structural biologists and would be advantageous.
• Experience in advancing protein therapeutics through discovery to pre-clinical candidate stage.
• Strong external reputation through high-impact publications, presentations and scientific community engagement.
• Prior experience in leadership and management roles for advancing protein therapeutics through discovery and early development.
• Proficiency with pharmaceutical industry technical business processes: change control, deviation management, technical protocols/reports, and regulatory license documents would be advantageous.

What we will offer you

An excellent opportunity to join a leading biopharmaceutical company with opportunities to grow and develop. Within the Discovery Biologics team, you will be helping to deliver best in class molecules, working innovatively with both internal and external collaborators.

Your role at our company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our company, we’re inventing for life.

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively for the common good. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Closing date: 4th of August

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

08/5/2024

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