Principal Research Scientist II, Immuno-biology

DJS-AbbVie is an AbbVie R&D hub based in Oxford, created following AbbVie’s acquisition of Oxford biotech company DJS Antibodies. As part of AbbVie, we aim to develop new medicines that improve the lives of patients with immunological and neurological diseases, as well as cancer. 

To achieve this, we have built and are now expanding an R&D hub in Oxford that brings together human-centric biology, drug design and discovery, with mechanistic clinical testing. We have discovered and developed novel pipeline candidates through our onsite capabilities in antibody discovery and translational biology. As well as uncovering new biology and advancing late stage assets to the clinic through collaboration with the wider AbbVie R&D organisation and local academic and biotech partners. 

This hub model has already delivered several first-in-class drug candidates and clinical assets, supported by a broad network of local collaborations spanning drug discovery technologies, novel disease biology, and innovative clinical trial approaches. The breadth of innovative activity taking place here makes this a unique place to work and a vital part of AbbVie’s ambition to turn science into cures. 

About the role: 

This role is the most senior immuno-biologist on the Oxford site and the leader of a group of 6 or more scientists. The holder will play a vital part in the site’s success, unlocking novel biology and translating it into new therapeutic targets.  

Their role will be to oversee two categories of immunology research: 

• Work undertaken the DJS-AbbVie labs by their team of 6+ reports 

• Academic and other external collaborations spanning bench-top post-doctoral projects as well as large experimental medicine studies 

They will be responsible for ensuring findings are translated into validated targets that can be delivered to both the on-site Novel Therapeutics team in Oxford, and the wider AbbVie Immunology Discovery Research organization headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They will need to develop a strong understanding of AbbVie immunology drug discovery priorities, and be able to translate this into strategic guidance to both internal and external scientists. This will require drafting strategically-aligned project plans the ensure the right immunological questions are being asked and addressed using the right experimental approaches.  

To deliver all this they must be an outstanding scientific leader, instilling a strong scientific and translational mindset within their team, and stay on top of the latest trends and enabling technologies in immunology.  

Their team may contain biologist from a range of industrial and academic backgrounds and it will be important to train the team to distinguish between findings that are interesting and findings that are valuable. They must also be an excellent stakeholder manager, ensuring that teams remain aligned across geographies and institutions.  

While this is a biology research role, they are expected to model a generalist drug-hunter mindset and they and their team members, may be asked to serve as biology leads on discovery portfolio projects.  

They will be the senior immunologist on-site at DJS-AbbVie Oxford, and a member of the broader AbbVie Immunology Extended Leadership team. In this latter role they will be expected to lead cross-functional initiatives and departmental steering committees. 

Successful applicant's key responsibilities 

• Discover and validate immunological pathways and targets for novel therapeutic discovery. 

• Lead a team of 6+ direct reports, fostering a team of biologists and immunologists from a range of backgrounds and experience levels. 

• Oversee and shape external collaborations and provide scientific input and strategic leadership on these, including drafting of project plans.  

• Ensure high-quality project planning through sound experimental design, early risk assessment and robust contingency planning  

• Develop immunology capabilities within the Oxford site including building new assays and techniques, and identify key new equipment 

• Maintain close relationships with US-based stakeholders across a range functions including the wider Immunology research department, as well as precision medicine and clinical development. 

• Model a culture of immunology excellence, tracking the latest trends and developments, while translating these into translational, drug discovery experimental and project plans. 

• Act as a biology lead on DJS-AbbVie portfolio programs, and mentor team members when they are acting in this capacity 

• Act as an immunology extended senior staff leadership team member, lead cross-functional initiatives and departmental steering committees 

• Apply imagination and innovation to create new techniques and conceive breakthrough ideas  

• Present scientific concepts and results to scientific and non-scientific audiences, including senior stakeholders and external partners  

• Proven ability to produce robust biological insights as demonstrated through track record of either: successful target identification and validation leading to therapeutic candidates; academic publications of substantial impact; or other evidence of output 

• Track record in successful research program design and delivery 

• Experience leading and mentoring more junior scientists 

• Experience in drug discovery programmes or target identification and validation in immunology 

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external collaborators  

• Excellent scientific communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence across internal functions and seniority levels as well as external collaborators 

Education: 

• BS/ MS or PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific area 

Desirable characteristics 

• Experience in drug delivery to candidate nomination and beyond, or early clinical development 

• Practical experience in human biology benchtops techniques such as explants or complex in vitro model systems. 

• Practical experience with mouse models. 

• Practical experience in extracting value from human-derived molecular and cellular datasets 

Apply today:

Alongside your CV, we kindly ask that you include a covering letter telling us about the key strengths you'd bring to the role, what makes you well-suited, and your motivation for wanting to join us.

Key dates for next steps: 

1) 30 minute phone interview - 26-28th May 

2) On-site DJS-AbbVie site visit and in-person interview - 28-29th May 

3) Final interview (online) - 1-2nd June