IDEXX

Principal Scientist - Antibody Characterization, Optimization & Immunology

IDEXX$125K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. with 5-7 years of industry experience in immunology or biomedical engineering.
  • Proficient in bioanalytical techniques such as BLI, SPR, and Western Assays.
  • Strong skills in cell culture and immune cell isolations.
  • Expertise in antibody discovery techniques and immunogen development.
  • Thorough understanding of high-throughput antibody screening methods.
  • Excellent project planning and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

  • Drive the development and characterization of proteins and antibodies using immunology expertise.
  • Support teams with strategies for antibody discovery, including species-specific screening.
  • Ensure delivery of characterization milestones with bioanalytical teams.
  • Facilitate effective communication among internal and external stakeholders.
  • Document research outcomes through detailed lab notebooks and reports.
  • Manage team activities and participate in program delivery to milestones.
  • Contribute to knowledge development through conferences and seminars.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision benefits starting on the first day.
  • 5% 401k matching.
  • Comprehensive support for mental health and wellness initiatives.
  • Paid volunteer days and pet insurance options.
  • Opportunities for annual cash bonuses and employee stock programs.
Full Job Description
Join IDEXX's Molecular Analytics and Bioanalytical Research and Instrumentation Center (BRIC) at the intersection of immunology and antibody science - where deep knowledge of the immune system directly drives the development of diagnostic products used by veterinarians worldwide. As a Principal Scientist, you will apply expertise spanning adaptive immunity, antibody biology, and biophysical characterization across a portfolio unmatched in the industry, working with cross-functional teams to advance candidates from immunological concepts to characterized lead.

In this role:
  • You will leverage automated single-cell biology platforms and deep understanding of B cell activation, affinity maturation for high-throughput screening, and selection of high-quality antibody candidates against novel targets.
  • You will apply humoral immunology knowledge, including antibody isotypes, Fc effector biology, T cell help, and antigen presentation, to guide candidate antibody generation and selection.
  • You will engineer multi-format antibody molecules: IgG, Fab, nanobodies, and scFv; leveraging yeast and phage display platforms.
  • You will lead biophysical characterization (BLI, SPR), developability assessments, epitope mapping, evaluate binding kinetics, stability, and sequence liabilities, executing optimization campaigns via site-directed mutagenesis and structure-guided engineering.
  • You will provide technical leadership within cross-functional teams, author technical reports, design history files, and laboratory notebooks.


What Do You Need to Succeed:
  • Ph.D. in Immunology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, or related field with 5-7 years of industry/academia experience
  • Deep understanding of adaptive immunity: B and T cell biology, humoral immune responses, and antibody affinity maturation
  • Proven experience in antibody engineering (IgG, Fab, nanobodies, and scFv), biophysical characterization, and lead optimization
  • Hands-on expertise in biophysical methods and molecular biology skills including cloning and mammalian expression systems
  • Multi-species antibody experience is a significant advantage
  • Experience with automated single-cell biology platforms for high-throughput antibody screening and functional cell profiling
  • Strong planning, execution, decision-making, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to drive complex projects to completion
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams


What you can expect from us:
  • Salary range starting at $125,000 based on experience
  • Opportunity for annual cash bonus
  • Health / Dental / Vision Benefits Day-One
  • 5% matching 401k
  • Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more


If you're looking for a role that'll challenge you, offer a variety of work and learning, while helping an amazing industry, we'd love to hear from you!

About the job location:

If you're thinking about relocating for this role, here are a few things to know about living in Maine (often called "Vacationland"). The Westbrook, ME area provides great access to active downtown areas and the outdoors, with the coast and numerous mountains and hiking trails nearby. You'll also find a number of large companies like ours in the area, creating a vibrant work culture.

You can learn more on the Portland tourism website: https://www.visitportland.com/visit/resources/moving-to-maine/

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

While we appreciate our staffing partners, we are unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

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About IDEXX

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is an American multinational corporation engaged in the development, manufacture, and distribution of products and services for the companion animal veterinary, livestock and poultry, water testing, and dairy markets. Incorporated in 1983 and headquartered in Westbrook, Maine, and EMEA in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, IDEXX offers products to customers in over 175 countries around the world.
Learn more about IDEXX
Size
10,350 employees
Market Cap
$33.7 billion
Industry
Net Income
$581.7 million
Founded
1983
5 Year Trend
+12.6%
Revenue
$2.7 billion
NASDAQ

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