Associate Scientist - Viral Vaccines

Pfizer • Pearl River, NY

5d • Onsite

About The Position

At Pfizer, our purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that transform patients' lives. Central to this mission is our Research and Development team, which strives to convert advanced science and cutting-edge technologies into impactful therapies and vaccines. Whether you are engaged in discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy, or supporting clinical trials, your role is crucial. You will leverage innovative design and process development capabilities to expedite the delivery of top tier medicines to patients globally. By integrating advanced scientific knowledge with practical applications, we aim to bring the most effective treatments to those in need, fulfilling our commitment to improving health outcomes worldwide. As an Associate Scientist, you will generate high-quality immunoassay data to support Pfizer’s preclinical vaccine programs in accordance with applicable SOPs and quality standards. You will perform various assays to monitor the immune responses elicited by respiratory virus, herpesvirus, and influenza virus vaccine candidates. You will be encouraged to develop a strong understanding of the biological and technical rationale behind the assays you perform. This understanding will enable you to identify trends, investigate unexpected results, and contribute to assay improvements over time. Your strong work ethic and collaborative spirit will be an integral part of our dynamic team, enabling us to meet critical deadlines. It is your hard work and focus that will make Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

Requirements

• BA/BS with 0-2 years of laboratory experience.
• Training in aseptic technique and cell culture.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to collaborate and work in team environment.
• Demonstrated curiosity and willingness to learn the scientific principles underlying established laboratory assays.
• Proficiency with common scientific software (e.g., Microsoft Office, GraphPad Prism, or equivalent).

Nice To Haves

• Pharmaceutical and biotech drug discovery experience.
• Experience with handling infectious agents such as respiratory viruses.
• Experience with adherent and non-adherent cell lines.
• Knowledge of Luminex technology and flow cytometry techniques.
• Experience in developing and troubleshooting bioassays designed to assess antibody functionality.
• Experience using common AI tools, such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance workflows.

Responsibilities

• Execute preclinical serological bio-functional assays including, but not limited to, neutralization assays, Luminex assays, and ELISAs.
• Generate and characterize reagents for preclinical bio-functional studies to support vaccine development.
• Perform data analysis and present critical reviews of preclinical data, including interpretation of trends, sources of variability, and potential next steps.
• Support troubleshooting, assay optimization, and continuous improvement of laboratory methods.
• Organize assigned work according to established departmental priorities.
• Demonstrate scientific curiosity by seeking to understand assay performance and proactively identifying opportunities to improve data quality or workflows.
• Present progress on assay execution and development to colleagues and cross-functional project stakeholders.
• Exercise and build team effectiveness skills (e.g., commitment, feedback, consensus management) within the immediate work group.
• Assist in updating and writing documents associated with bio-functional assays, including project reports.
• Assist in ordering supplies from internal inventory and external vendors.
• Complete all required safety and compliance training and perform responsibilities in alignment with EHS requirements and all applicable regulations.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
• Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree