Principal Research Scientist I, Biologics Analytical R&D (Lipids SME)

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

Job Description

About the Group : The Analytical Development group within the newly formed Targeted LNP (tLNP) CMC Team at AbbVie that is dedicated to advancing state-of-the-art analytical capabilities for mRNA-lipid nanoparticle therapeutics. Our team provides critical support across drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) manufacturing, drug product formulation, and the development and implementation of robust analytical methodologies to ensure the quality, safety and integrity of tLNP genetic medicines. We leverage advanced biophysical, separations, and mass spectrometry techniques to deeply characterize intact LNP particles. We foster close collaborations with cross-functional colleagues in CMC, drug product formulation, and external partners, and are currently growing a world-class team of scientists who will be instrumental in building and deploying the analytical toolbox necessary to deliver high-quality, innovative tLNP medicines to patients.

Position Overview: As a Lipids SME within the Analytical Development team of AbbVie’s Targeted LNP (tLNP) CMC organization, you will be responsible for leading the analytical activities relevant to lipids components. Develops, establishes and validates testing methods used to control individual lipid starting material and final assembled lipids component in the DP. Responsible for development and implementation of control strategies for individual lipid starting material and final assembled lipids component in the DP. Responsible for keeping work in compliance with cGMP, safety and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the candidate must foster productive collaborations within the global Analytical CMC organization and with R&D cross-functional partners such as Discovery, Pre-Clinical Safety, Process Chemistry, Process Engineering, Drug Product Development, and Quality Assurance and CMC-Regulatory Affairs. 

Responsibilities:

• Act as an analytical lead for lipids component for tLNP projects
• Develop analytical control strategies for individual lipid component as well as for the assembled lipid components in the final tLNP drug product
• Effectively function as the lead subject matter expert for analytical methods related to lipid quantitation, purity assessment, and identification of impurities or degradation products.
• Develop, optimize, validate, and implement analytical methods for lipids quality control
• Oversee contract testing labs analytical testing of clinical supplies
• Facilitates and leads investigation for out of specification (OOS) and out of trend (OOT) results
• Prepares analytical sections of regulatory documents, protocols and reports
• Supporting formulation and manufacturing by ensuring consistent lipids quality
• Design experiments to understand and characterize lipids degradation pathways in the final tLNP drug product
• Train and mentor junior scientists in lipids related analytical methodologies
• Stay current on innovations, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices for tLNP lipid components quality control
• Generate new scientific proposals and lead those efforts
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with team members and a willingness to continuously learn new techniques to enhance and advance the analytical capabilities of the program
• Demonstrate scientific initiative and creativity in research or development activities and maintain a high level of productivity in the lab
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality
• Understand and comply with AbbVie safety, quality and regulatory policies and government regulations

Qualifications

• Leveling will be commensurate to experience:
  • Senior Scientist II : Analytical Chemistry degree (or related field). BS with 12+ years', MS with 10+ years', and PhD with 4+ years' industry experience.
  • Principal Scientist I : Analytical Chemistry degree (or related field). BS with 14+ years', MS with 12+ years', and PhD with 6+ years' industry experience.
• Demonstrated CMC experience for small molecules / lipids from an analytical perspective
• Demonstrated understanding of synthetic chemistry process for the synthesis of small molecules or lipids
• Demonstrated understanding of the analytical strategy for critical quality attributes monitoring
• Demonstrated capability to design experiments to understand lipids degradation pathways and establish analytical methods to monitor degradants
• Extensive hands-on experience in analytical techniques for small molecules/lipids/ LNPs (e.g., LC-CAD, LC-MS, spectroscopy)
• Direct experience developing, qualifying, and transferring analytical methods
• Ability to coordinate and help trouble shoot analytical methods at external CDMOs or contract testing labs
• Hands-on experience with additional analytical techniques relevant to mRNA or LNP analysis is considered a plus
• Working knowledge of biosafety, data integrity, and compliance requirements for GxP-regulated testing and ICH guidelines
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to explain data to technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrate creative 'out of the box' thinking to solve difficult problems

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

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