Principal Scientist, Engineered Cell Therapy Discovery

Bristol Myers Squibb • Seattle, WA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center is one of BMS’s differentiated research platforms delivering innovative therapies to patients. Our mission is to drive leadership in the use of cellular therapies to harness the power of the immune system in treating hematologic malignancies, solid cancers, and autoimmune disease. More specifically, our discovery and translational scientists are focused on developing next-generation, engineered cell-based therapies. The team is committed to discovering and developing transformative therapies that harness the power of the immune system to improve patient outcomes. The Engineered Cell Therapy Discovery team in the Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center has an opening for a highly motivated and accomplished Principal Scientist with a passion for the discovery and development of novel engineered CAR T and eTCR T cell therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in immunology and cell therapy, along with a strong track record of leading complex, multidisciplinary research programs from concept through preclinical development, including in vitro functional screening of T cell cytotoxicity and effector function, engineering of logic-gated CAR T/eTCR T cell circuits, gene delivery, genetic construct optimization, and translation of findings into in vivo xenograft studies. This position will serve as a key scientific leader on the team, setting research strategy, mentoring junior scientists, and partnering with cross-functional and external collaborators to advance cutting-edge cell therapy programs. This position is ideal for an innovative, established scientist who thrives on setting scientific direction and translating data into critical drug discovery decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree 8+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Master’s Degree 6+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences 4+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Ph.D. in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline
• 4+ years of postdoctoral and/or industry research experience, including demonstrated leadership of independent research programs
• Master's Degree in a related discipline 6+ years of relevant industry research experience, including demonstrated leadership of independent research programs
• Extensive experience designing and executing in vitro functional T cell assays (e.g., cytotoxicity, cytokine production, proliferation) to evaluate and optimize engineered T cell therapies is required
• Deep expertise in gene delivery methods (lentiviral, retroviral, AAV) and genetic construct design/optimization for engineered cell therapies, including logic-gated or multi-input circuit design, is required
• Track record of leading multidisciplinary project teams across wet lab, computational, and clinical collaborators, including across multiple sites.
• Experience mentoring and managing direct reports, including providing scientific and career development guidance
• Experience leading complex, matrixed cell therapy programs, including endorsement of key drug development milestones
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications and/or patents in immunology, cell therapy, or a related field.
• Proficient in multi-color flow cytometry, functional cytotoxicity/cytokine assays, and other relevant immune cell characterization methods.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques including genetic construct design, cloning strategies (e.g., Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate), and pooled library generation for genetic screening
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to set scientific direction and drive go/no-go decisions in a fast-paced, collaborative drug discovery environment
• Requires advanced, expert-level knowledge of the principles and concepts of biological sciences, immunology, bioengineering, or a related discipline

Nice To Haves

• Experience with in vivo xenograft models to evaluate CAR T/eTCR T cell efficacy and translate in vitro findings into preclinical proof-of-concept is a plus
• Expertise in emerging technologies in immunology and cell therapy, such as HT imaging, CRISPR screens, etc. is a plus
• Expertise in utilization of AI in scientific discovery and general workflows is a plus
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills are desirable

Responsibilities

• Provides scientific leadership and sets strategic direction for research programs focused on the discovery and optimization of engineered CAR T and eTCR T cell therapies.
• Leads in vitro functional screening efforts focused on T cell cytotoxicity and effector function (e.g., cytokine production, proliferation, killing assays) to evaluate and optimize engineered T cell therapies, including logic-gated CAR T/eTCR T cell circuits.
• Designs and optimizes genetic constructs, including logic-gated and multi-input circuits, and gene delivery approaches (lentiviral, retroviral, AAV) to improve the potency, persistence, and safety of engineered T cell therapies.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and functional mentor, managing and developing junior scientists and providing scientific guidance across project teams.
• Supports translation of in vitro functional data into in vivo xenograft studies to evaluate CAR T/eTCR T cell efficacy and inform go/no-go decisions.
• Leads and coordinates multidisciplinary collaborations across wet lab, computational, and clinical functions, including across multiple sites, to drive functional screening and validation efforts.
• Drives go/no-go decision-making and represents research strategy and data to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Contributes to IND-enabling study reports, patent applications, and peer-reviewed publications, and maintains rigorous, timely documentation (electronic notebooks) to support project milestones and regulatory/patent filings.

Benefits

• Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
• BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
• 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
• flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)
• 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays
• unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree