Principal Scientist - Antibody Characterization, Optimization & Immunology

IDEXX•Westbrook, ME

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Join IDEXX's Molecular Analytics and Bioanalytical Research and Instrumentation Center (BRIC) at the intersection of immunology and antibody science — where deep knowledge of the immune system directly drives the development of diagnostic products used by veterinarians worldwide. As a Principal Scientist, you will apply expertise spanning adaptive immunity, antibody biology, and biophysical characterization across a portfolio unmatched in the industry, working with cross-functional teams to advance candidates from immunological concepts to characterized lead.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Immunology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, or related field with 5–7 years of industry/academia experience
Deep understanding of adaptive immunity: B and T cell biology, humoral immune responses, and antibody affinity maturation
Proven experience in antibody development — biophysical characterization, and lead optimization
Hands-on expertise in biophysical methods and molecular biology skills including cloning and mammalian expression systems
Strong planning, execution, decision-making, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to drive complex projects to completion
Excellent written and verbal communication; demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams

Nice To Haves

Multi-species antibody experience is a significant advantage
Experience with automated single-cell biology platforms for high-throughput antibody screening and functional cell profiling

Responsibilities

Leverage automated single-cell biology platforms and deep understanding of B cell activation, affinity maturation for high-throughput screening, and selection of high-quality antibody candidates against novel targets.
Apply humoral immunology knowledge — antibody isotypes, Fc effector biology, T cell help, and antigen presentation — to guide candidate generation, selection, and optimization decisions.
Lead biophysical characterization (BLI, SPR), developability assessments, epitope mapping, evaluate binding kinetics, stability, and sequence liabilities — executing optimization campaigns via site-directed mutagenesis and structure-guided engineering.
Provide technical leadership within cross-functional teams, author technical reports, design history files, and laboratory notebooks.