Scientist II, Antibody EngineeringDo you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.
Purpose and Scope:We are seeking a talented and motivated Scientist II to join our Antibody Engineering team in South San Francisco. This role will contribute to the design and development of next-generation biologics, with a focus on bispecific antibodies, T-cell engagers (TCE), engineered cytokines, multifunctional antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) / degrader-antibody conjugates (DAC). The successful candidate will leverage expertise in protein engineering, purification, and characterization to support innovative therapeutic programs and advance our oncology pipeline.
Essential Job Responsibilities:- Lead Antibody Engineering Projects: Contribute to the design and development of bispecific antibodies, T-cell engagers (TCE), engineered cytokines, and multifunctional antibodies, including cloning, protein production / characterization, and assay development in high-throughput as well as larger-scale settings.
- Collaborative Research: Work closely with AI-ML, cancer biology, and the Tsukuba Biologics teams to advance novel antibody engineering efforts into oncology research programs.
- Data Analysis, Presentation and Reporting: Analyze experimental data, maintain accurate records, and present findings to internal stakeholders and at scientific conferences. Contribute to technical reports, publications, and patent applications as needed.
- Stay Current with Advances: Keep up-to-date with scientific literature and emerging technologies in antibody engineering and oncology to support project goals.
Qualifications Required:- PhD with 3+ years related industry experience in antibody/protein engineering/biochemistry and molecular biology, preferably in the oncology / immuno-oncology space
- Demonstrated expertise in bispecific antibody purification including chromatography methods such as protein A, Ni-NTA, HIC, IEX, SEC. Experience with AKTA chromatographic instruments is preferred
- Strong understanding of antibody structure/sequence
- Proficiencies in molecular biology techniques, including DNA construct design, PCR, DNA purification and molecular cloning
- Demonstrated ability to conceive and design experiments, develop and optimize protocols/assays, and interpret experimental results
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision and ability to effectively collaborate with other teams; collegiality is a critical attribute
- Diligence and meticulous attention to detail in experimentation and record keeping
- Strong work ethic, good team player, willingness to fill gaps unrelated to primary projects, demonstrated flexibility/adaptability to meet critical research related timelines
Preferred:- Experience with protein characterization techniques, such as aSEC, CE-SDS/SDS-PAGE, cIEF, DSF, Octet/Biacore-based and ELISA-based binding assays, endotoxin testing
- Experience with de novo antibody discovery through yeast/phage display or immunization campaigns
- Knowledge of NGS and AI/ML guided antibody selection strategies
- Experience with mammalian cell cultures, expressing and purifying antibodies/secreted proteins
Working Environment:- This position is based in the Astellas West Coast Innovation and Research Center and will require on-site work in a laboratory setting with R&D teams.
Salary Range: $103,600 - $148,000 (NOTE: Final salary could be more or less, based on experience)
Benefits:- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks
- 401(k) match and annual company contribution
- Company paid life insurance
- Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
- Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
- Referral bonus program
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