Senior Research Scientist I

Key Skills

C++, Clustering, Design, Effective communication skills, Large data sets, Python Programming, R Programming, User support and Troubleshooting

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated protein engineer, with experience in the identification, optimisation, and development of biologics, to enable Gilead’s ambitious objectives. This position provides a unique opportunity to work closely with highly diverse and collaborative groups, both internally and externally, to implement state-of-the-art methodologies to deliver the next-generation of antibody-based therapeutics.

The successful candidate will work closely with other protein engineers, and therapy area aligned biologists, to design and optimise next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific mAbs, leveraging their protein engineering expertise. The individual will collaborate cross-functionally and contribute to establishing systems and practices for efficient technology and project delivery. They will play an active role in project team coordination and will lead collaborations and research efforts for novel method development and next-generation antibody-based therapeutic delivery.

Essential Functions:

• Design and deliver next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific mAbs, leveraging protein engineering and molecular modelling expertise
• Analyse antibody sequences from in vivo and in vitro derived repertoires. Develop and apply analytical methods for antibody/protein design and developability engineering, utilise large-scale NGS and other in-house and external data sources
• Design and run antibody isolation, optimisation, and humanisation campaigns
• Implement technologies and novel approaches for next-generation antibody-based therapeutic discovery and apply a broad functional knowledge to support departmental initiatives
• Interpret large data sets and troubleshoot experimental results/data
• Collaborate with internal teams, as well as external experts, CROs and academic groups, to leverage opportunities, establish best practices, and deliver innovation
• Author and contribute to presentations, publications, and patents

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

• Significant experience and in-depth technical and practical knowledge of in vitro and in vivo antibody engineering approaches, from repertoire design and isolation through to characterisation
• Practical experience of using NGS to guide the delivery and choice of antibody panels – a strong understanding of antibody genetics coupled with experience of analysing antibody repertoires, including germline annotation, clustering, and diversity analysis
• Expertise in molecular modelling, and the use of bioinformatics tools and computational methods, for the design and optimisation of antibody sequences
• Strong team-player, with experience of collaborating with aligned teams, CROs and academic groups
• Good communication skills, with experience of presenting to external audiences, publishing manuscripts and where appropriate patents
• Desirable - proficiency in R, Python, or C++ programming languages
• Desirable - experience in HT-antibody screening, reformatting and characterisation methods including in vitro biochemical assays, (ELISA, SPR, BLI or flow cytometry) and functional assays

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD in protein engineering, or a related discipline with demonstrated expertise in biologics, with at least 5 years of relevant work experience. Industry experience is preferred

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

It is the policy of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively Gilead or the Company) to recruit select and employ the most qualified persons available for positions throughout the Company. Except if otherwise provided by applicable law, all employment actions relating to issues such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, returns from layoffs, company-sponsored training, education assistance, social and recreational programs are administered on a non-discriminatory basis (i.e. without regard to protected characteristics or prohibited grounds, which may include an individual’s gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, veteran status, and age, unless such protection is prohibited by federal, state, municipal, provincial, local or other applicable laws). Gilead also prohibits discrimination based on any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.