Job Description

Company Description

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 – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at  . Follow @abbvie on  X ,  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  YouTube ,  LinkedIn and  Tik Tok .

Job Description

The Scientist II, Fermentation will be an instrumental team member of the Neurotoxin & Biologics Process Sciences Department, based in Irvine, CA.  The primary role of this position is to plan, design studies, execute experiments and develop processes to support the fermentation of natural and recombinant proteins from bacterial cell cultures.  The scientist will support studies at small and intermediate scale during various stages of development including cell line development, upstream process development and process optimization. The fermentation scientist will independently operate small- and intermediate-scale upstream equipment (Ambr® 250, Biostat® B-DCU, single-use fermentors, steam-in-place fermentors, microfluidizers, CIP skid etc.).

The scientist in this position is expected to demonstrate a significant level of hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge in upstream processes. This individual will design and execute the studies by applying quality by design (QbD), scientific and/or engineering principles & practices, scale-up & scale-down model qualifications, and daily operations of upstream activities. Significant experience authoring standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical reports to support phase-appropriate process development and technology transfer is preferred. Additional responsibilities include data analysis, troubleshooting process and equipment, participation in project teams, lab inventory and organization, maintaining detailed records of batches and experiments. Experience performing molecular biology or microbiology work such as cloning, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and bacterial colony selection is prefered, but not required.

An ideal candidate would have the ability to work as an integral part of an upstream team. This individual will support drug discovery and downstream teams, as well as demonstrate a high degree of flexibility, creativity, and initiative for the various duties and aspects of position.

Furthermore, the position requires the individual to work with regulated Select Agents and Toxins access (i.e. Biosafety level 2 and biosafety level 3 laboratories). Access to and use of select agents is regulated by federal policies. Therefore, the candidate must conduct all work activities in compliance with AbbVie internal and applicable regulatory requirements including health screening and background checks.  AbbVie internal requirements include compliance with ethics, environmental health and safety, financial, human resources, and general business policies, requirements and objectives.

Essential Skills / Responsibilities:

• Have hands-on laboratory bench work to develop and prepare biologics products candidates for various groups with tight timelines.
• Design and execute studies to support upstream process development, including analysis and documentation, to support biologics drug development.
• Independently operate fermentation/upstream process equipment. Position requires proficient knowledge and hands on experience of operating stainless steel/glass/single-use fermentors and clarification equipment.
• Perform routine fermentation operations relating to fermentor prep: assembly/disassembly, P-test/SIP/CIP, in process sampling and media/buffer/reagent prep and able to troubleshoot operational and equipment issues.
• Experience performing molecular biology or microbiology work is prefered, but not required.
• Significant experience authoring technical documents and reports is preferred.
• Willing to work with and handle potent neurotoxins and in-process samples that may contain toxin-expressing organisms.
• Follow study protocols and execute experiments independently (or minimal supervision) at small scale and large scales.
• Demonstrate technical competence in executing fermentation experiments utilizing detailed knowledge of standard analytical techniques in fermentation process development and data analysis.
• Identify, recommend and implement process and operational improvements of upstream process while maintaining safe operations.
• Collaborate effectively to achieve results as an individual as well as part of a team environment. Assist fermentation team in tech transfer for process developed at small scale to early stage process development laboratory (internally or externally).
• Complete training consistent with safety, technical, operational, process, and other skill/ knowledge requirements for the position. Maintain training currency. Support safety program and ensure safety in all routine and new operations by strictly following SOPs.

Qualifications

• Appropriate experience obtained through a combination of applied experience and education in Biological Science, Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Biochemical/Chemical Engineering, or a related Life Science field.
• Individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 7 years of experience or Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 5 years of experience may qualify for Scientist II position.
• Experience drafting scientific & technical documents and reports.
• Hands-on experience in the operation of single-use and stainless-steel fermentors.
• Knowledge of standard molecular biology and/or microbiology techniques.
• Experience with process engineering and implementation of new process technology for fermentation and primary recovery processes.
• Experience with cell lysis and early clarification methods using various membrane methodologies.
  Key Leadership Competencies:
  • Builds strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of the immediate team to enable higher performance
  • Learns fast and can change course quickly as needed
  • Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo
  • Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experiments to drive the science in the field of interest
  • Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality and practical understanding of own scientific discipline.

Additional Information

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

• ​​This is an on-site, lab-based role that works with neurotixins, located in Irvine, CA
• 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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