Associate Scientist II - Bio Process Purification Development
About The Position
The Associate Scientist II will work in AbbVie's Biologics CMC Development purification team in South San Francisco, developing robust, phase-appropriate purification processes for drug substance GMP production to enable human clinical studies and eventual licensure. The team works collaboratively across phases of CMC development, with a primary focus on complex biologic therapies, including bispecifics and novel modalities. This is an onsite, lab-based role in a highly collaborative environment with daily face-to-face interactions. The position supports purification process development, optimization, scale-up, and transfer to GMP manufacturing. It also involves executing routine purification operations, performing analytical measurements, maintaining accurate documentation and records, contributing to technical reports and presentations, and supporting safe, well-maintained laboratory and scale-up operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related field, with typically 3 or more years of related experience; or a master's degree with 0–2 years of relevant industry experience.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow written experimental protocols and safety procedures.
- Ability to maintain accurate, complete, and traceable written records.
- Ability to analyze and critique experimental results and identify significant deviations.
- Ability to work collaboratively within and outside the group.
- Ability to learn and understand new experimental techniques.
- Strong understanding of bioprocess engineering concepts.
- Strong planning and analytical skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Proficient scientific writing and verbal communication skills, including scientific data presentations.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to learn new software applications.
- Comfort with constant standing, walking, and sitting, and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
Nice To Haves
- Hands-on experience executing antibody or antibody-like molecule purification techniques, including resin chromatography (affinity, CEX, AEX, MMC), depth filtration, virus filtration, membrane chromatography, and TFF operations.
- Hands-on experience with monoclonal antibody or antibody-like molecule purification at GMP, pilot, and/or laboratory scale.
- Understanding of analytical techniques such as HPLC, LAL, and ELISA.
- Hands-on experience with high-throughput technologies and automation.
Responsibilities
- Support development, optimization, and scale-up of purification processes through laboratory and scale-up laboratory activities.
- Support transfer of purification processes to GMP manufacturing for clinical material production.
- Execute routine purification development operations from harvest to UF/DF, independently after appropriate training, following established protocols and generating reliable, consistent results.
- Analyze and critique experimental results, document significant deviations or unexpected results, and communicate them promptly.
- Prepare small to large batches of buffer solutions, up to 500 L, following batch record recipes.
- Support scale-up laboratory activities, including preparation and execution.
- Perform routine analytical measurements using HPLC and UV-vis instrumentation.
- Accurately record experimental observations and results at the time of execution and maintain complete, traceable data sets and batch records, including instrument files and analytical results, in electronic notebooks, databases, and Excel files according to established procedures and timelines.
- Perform general laboratory maintenance, including maintaining cleanliness, equipment, and inventory.
- Follow applicable laboratory and scale-up plant safety procedures and SOPs, and complete required training before performing assigned activities.
- Collaborate within the team to follow best practices and meet project goals.
- Participate in evaluating novel, advanced bioprocess technologies aligned with the group's strategy.
- Learn and understand new experimental techniques.
- Author technical reports and presentations, including preparing verbal updates and presentations at group meetings.
Benefits
- Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick time.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees.
- 401(k) for eligible employees.
- Eligible to participate in short-term incentive programs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
