Antibody Discovery Platform Lead

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, Data Discovery, Drug Discovery, Leadership Skill, Machine learning techniques, Planning and organization

Job Description

At DJS Antibodies we aspire to create the next generation of antibody therapeutics for immunological diseases and cancers. As a biotech company within AbbVie, we combine the agility, team spirit and scientific focus of a biotech company with the reach and vision of a global pharmaceutical company. We have developed a number of drug candidates to date, and are growing our portfolio to have the biggest impact we can on patients’ lives.

To deliver this, we are looking for a highly skilled Antibody Discovery Platform Lead. Candidates should be excited about working with a range of cutting-edge techniques including single-B cell technologies, display technologies, antibody genomics platforms and advanced bioinformatic and AI approaches. They must be willing to lead from the bench, be excited about leading a small team, and be keen to get involved with all aspects of research at DJS. They should have a track record of antibody isolation in industry or academia.

At DJS we have established a variety of technologies for isolating antibodies to complex membrane proteins including single B cell techniques, display methodologies and bioinformatic approaches, all built around our proprietary HEPTAD platform for inducing antibodies to complex targets. The purpose of this role will be to integrate all these technologies into a single unified platform, develop processes to maximise its efficiency, and develop new ideas to allow us to identify antibodies to ever-more challenging targets with unprecedented success. The successful applicant will be a practical person who is organised, pays attention to detail and is able to lead a small team of reports and non-reports to get things done effectively. They should be excited about collaborating with internal (AbbVie) researchers as well as external experts to develop AI and ML tools into antibody discovery workflows.

A successful applicant will have many scientific career development opportunities as well as exposure to all aspects of R&D biology, technology and drug development, and the broader business, at both DJS and within the wider AbbVie organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Integrating our diverse discovery technologies into one unified discovery platform.
• Opportunity for the right candidate to lead a small team and work at the bench alongside them to deliver lead antibodies from the discovery platform.
• Develop systems for tracking, curating and exploit data from discovery campaigns including antibody sequence data.
• Perform critical laboratory experiments and analysis to develop and extend existing technologies.
• Work to characterize the strengths and weaknesses of novel formats for integral membrane proteins such and virus-like particles and nanodiscs.
• Mentor junior scientists from the bench side in new and novel biochemical techniques and methodologies.
• Act as a go-to expert for antibody discovery technology.
• Keeping up-to-date with developments in the literature in relation to antibody discovery technologies.
• Contribute ideas and suggestions to all DJS programs.
• Develop and refine DJS internal laboratory capabilities.
• Gather, analyse and present data from a variety of sources to the wider team and organization.
• Critically and impartially review self and peer generated laboratory data to create tangible actions
• Maintenance of laboratory experimental records.
• Bringing energy, enthusiasm and positivity to the company.

Skills and Experience:

• A PhD or equivalent level of experience of working in a research laboratory and significant experience working within antibody discovery organisations.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to drug development research.
• Proven experience of therapeutic antibody drug discovery.
• Proven expertise and experience in:
• Experience isolating and enriching antibody secreting cells or memory B cells
• One of the following antibody discovery techniques: antibody isolation from single B cells or phage display
• Flow cytometry
• Molecular biology of antibodies: amplifying VH and VL domains, basic VDJ genetics, etc
• Range of antibody cloning, expression and purification techniques
• Construction and curation of Ig gene sequence library databases using tools such as PipeBio, Genedata and Geneious Biologics

Desirable skills:

• Experience with antibody isolation from single B-cells and phage display
• Experience working with 10X genomics or similar sequencing approaches for variable region sequencing
• Delivery of therapeutic format antibodies with drug like properties
• Experience with high-throughput antibody screening assays
• Experience with therapeutic antibody optimization: humanization; affinity optimization and liability removal
• Experience with protein biochemistry techniques e.g. FPLC
• Experience working with contract research organisations
• Experience with antibody binding techniques; ELISA, FACS, SPR etc.
• Experience working with experimental rodents and isolating cells from them.

Evidence of excellent organizational and interpersonal skills including:

• Ability to lead a small team, if required.
• Work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work efficiently with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to build effective working relationships including with AbbVie colleagues in the US.
• Laboratory method development.
• Ability to work flexible hours when required.
• Proven written and oral communicative ability.
• Problem-solving skills.

Strong IT skills.

• Flexible and adaptable with an all-inclusive goal-oriented mindset

At DJS Antibodies as part of AbbVie our ambition is to contribute world class novel antibody therapeutics for the treatment of severe diseases into AbbVies clinical pipeline. Our proprietary antibody discovery technology enables us to discover first in class antibodies to the key drivers of disease that have, until now, been intractable to drug discovery such as GPCR’s and other complex membrane and soluble targets.

Working at DJS will involve coming into a stimulating and entrepreneurial work environment with excellent exposure to industry-leading experts. Being part of a small team means that you will be exposed to all aspects of R&D and the broader business. You will benefit from working with a great team, a competitive remuneration package and significant opportunities for career development.

AbbVie is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives, serving our community, and embracing diversity and inclusion. It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected group status.