Senior Scientist I, Cell Line Development

Overview: 

The Biologics CMC Development organization at AbbVie has a long and rich history of biologics development, leveraging comprehensive end-to-end CMC capabilities to advance complex biologic therapies, such as bi-specifics and novel modalities, from discovery through human clinical studies and eventual licensure.

The Cell Line Development (CLD) Innovation Group is seeking a Senior Scientist I to join a talented and collaborative team developing next-generation CHO cell line platforms for the production of recombinant antibodies and complex biologics. This is a hands-on, laboratory-focused role for a versatile molecular biologist who will independently drive expression-optimization projects across both the vector and the host cell — from experimental design through execution and data interpretation. The successful candidate will design and test vector constructs, engineer host cells, conduct transfection and clone-generation campaigns in CHO cells, and apply a deep theoretical understanding of recombinant protein expression to improve titer in stable cell lines. This is not a single-technique position: the role spans the full set of levers that govern expression, and the candidate is expected to think, read, and propose, then carry the work out at the bench with a high degree of independence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently conceive ideas and designs to investigate CHO expression technical improvements across both vector and host cell.
• Design and test dozens of vector constructs in recombinant stable CHO cell lines for increased mAb titer.
• Employ a variety of hands-on laboratory techniques, including transfection, aseptic CHO cell culture, DNA gene copy number analysis, RNA expression analysis, mAb titer measurement, cell engineering to knock in/out target genes, and in vitro transcription.
• Receive externally sourced vector libraries and rapidly execute the associated transfection, screening, and clone-characterization studies to generate decision-quality data.
• Operate and interpret data from core CLD instrumentation, including Octet (BLI titer), ViCell, CloneSelect Imager, microfluidic clone-screening platforms such as the Beacon, flow cytometry, and ddPCR / RT-qPCR copy-number and expression assays. Share responsibility for equipment maintenance.
• Apply a rigorous theoretical and practical understanding of recombinant protein expression from the genome to the protein — including genomic loci, epigenetics, transcription, mRNA stability, translation, the organelles and secretory machinery involved, and the engineering constraints specific to industrial CHO cell line development.
• Author and co-author cell line development technical reports and present data to the group and to leadership; contribute scientific insight to project teams.
• Collaborate closely with cell culture, analytical, purification, and bioinformatics colleagues to meet project timelines, and adhere to corporate standards for code of conduct, safety, materials handling, and good documentation practices.

Required:

• Senior Scientist I: BS with a minimum of 10 years, or MS with a minimum of 8 years of experience, or PhD with no minimum years’ experience, in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to read the literature, review external sources, and gather inputs to synthesize technically sound ideas and design proper experimental controls.
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze experimental data, draw appropriate conclusions, and communicate them to a wide audience.
• Demonstrated proficiency with designing and implementing vector improvements to increase recombinant antibody expression levels in stable CHO cells.
• Demonstrated theoretical command of mammalian protein expression — able to speak substantively to topics such as genomic and epigenetic regulation (e.g., genomic loci, chromatin accessibility, and DNA methylation), transcriptional and translational control, the cellular machinery of protein secretion, and mRNA stability.
• Proficiency with Geneious Prime or similar software for designing and annotating DNA vectors, primers, and probes, and performing sequence alignments.
• Proficiency with cell engineering to knock in / knock out target genes using CRISPR/Cas or other suitable tools.
• Proficiency with most or all of the following techniques and instrumentation: transfection, aseptic mammalian cell culture, Octet, ViCell, CloneSelect Imager, and microfluidic clone-screening platforms such as the Beacon.
• Demonstrated ability to learn, understand, and master new experimental techniques, and to multi-task and work within timelines.
• Strong scientific communication skills — verbal, written, and data presentation — with detailed daily digital lab notebook record-keeping proficiency.
• A candidate who combines hands-on wet-lab depth with the ability to think alongside the team and then execute independently.

Preferred:

• While we welcome all candidates with a genuine passion for CHO expression, we strongly prefer those who bring hands-on, industry cell line development experience in a CMC / drug-substance environment over candidates with purely academic or cell-culture-development-only backgrounds.
• Candidates with substantial experience developing CHO expression platform improvements in an industrial/CMC setting.
• Possess a demonstrated and genuine passion for getting the most mAb titer out of recombinant CHO cells.
• Possess a thorough understanding of the genetic and epigenetic factors governing mAb expression in recombinant stable CHO cells.
• Previous experience working in CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls) to contribute to the generation of recombinant CHO cell lines that will be used in GMP manufacturing.
• Previous experience performing cellular analyses using flow cytometry.
• Experience across multiple expression-engineering strategies beyond DNA copy number and well-known promoters.
• Working knowledge of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for genomic DNA and RNA expression analysis — at minimum, the ability to match the appropriate NGS assay to the scientific question, and ideally hands-on experience with wet-lab library preparation and the associated data analysis and interpretation.
• Programming and data-science skills (e.g., Python, R) for analysis and visualization of cell line development data.