Associate Principal Scientist - Screening & Compound Profiling

Job Description

The Screening & Compound Profiling group at our Research Laboratories site in Rahway, NJ is looking for a highly motivated, talented and innovative Associate Principal Scientist with a strong background in biochemical and cell-based assays to participate on cross-functional teams and drive drug discovery programs across multiple therapeutic areas.  Successful individuals will use cutting-edge technologies to access unparalleled synthetically accessible chemical diversity. Scientists will be immersed in a multi-disciplinary environment (collaborating with Quantitative Biosciences, Data, AI & Genome Sciences (DAGS), Discovery Chemistry, Computational Structural Chemistry and project team colleagues) charged with progressing hits using detailed biochemical and cellular mechanistic profiling paired with informatics and high-throughput experimentation.  Output from such work will enable drug discovery programs across oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiometabolic and infectious disease. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, plan and execute robust scientific research activities utilizing biochemical & cell-based assays ‘at-scale’ to accelerate lead discovery.

• Represent Screening & Compound Profiling on cross-functional project teams influencing strategic direction with data/progress updates & insight.

• Contribute to a high-performance culture of inclusion, collaboration, engagement and self-accountability.

• Promote the external reputation of our department by contributing to publications and participating in external symposia.

Education:

• Degree in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or equivalent, including years of relevant in vitro assay and industry cross-functional team experience as appropriate: Ph.D. (4+ years), M.Sc. (7+ years) or B.Sc. (10+ years).

Required Skills & Experience:

• Extensive development of assays for soluble (e.g. kinases, phosphatases) and membrane (e.g. GPCR’s, ion channels, transporters) proteins.

• Miniaturization of biochemical and/or cell-based assays (384w/ 1536w) using liquid handlers and detectors to support small molecule and peptide screening & profiling.

• Demonstrated ability to work under tight timelines and independently execute experimental tasks.

• Guidance of scientific operations, strategy, and communication with a track record of collaboration on multidisciplinary teams in one or more therapeutic area(s).

• Interaction with therapeutic areas and chemistry across high-throughput screening, hit-to-lead and/or lead optimization discovery space.

• Passion for fostering a diverse and inclusive culture and contributing to the growth and success of colleagues.

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with a proven track-record of maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.

• Strong external reputation as evidenced through publications, presentations, and/or scientific community engagement.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Application of laboratory automation to biochemical and cell-based assay systems in both walk-up and integrated platform scenarios.

• Collaboration to identify, evaluate, and recommend novel and cutting-edge assay development strategies to drive programs in areas including, but not limited to, high throughput-complex cell models, mass spectrometry-based biochemical assays and ML/AI.

• Collaboration with project teams to develop innovative approaches to phenotypic screening for small molecule & functional genomic discovery efforts.

• Interaction with affinity-based screening teams/technologies (DEL, AS/MS, mRNA-Display) and adjacent functions (protein generation, biophysics).

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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