Principal Scientist, Vector Biology
About The Position
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit. About Innovative Medicine Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine We are searching for the best talent for a Principal Scientist, Vector Biology to be in Cambridge, MA. Purpose: We are seeking a Principal Scientist to spearhead receptor and viral‑entry biology initiatives that translate mechanistic insight into therapeutic progress. Responsibilities include creating and validating cell‑based assays for receptor localization and ligand/virus binding, dissecting entry pathways, and optimizing lentiviral transduction in coordination with cross‑functional teams.
Requirements
- PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Virology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering or related field (or equivalent industry experience)
- 3-6 years of relevant industry experience with a record of leading scientific projects and/or teams.
- Deep hands-on expertise in mammalian cell culture and cell line engineering.
- Proven track record developing and running quantitative cell-based assays for membrane proteins/receptors (e.g., flow cytometry panels, internalization assays, high‑content imaging).
- Practical knowledge of viral entry biology (receptor–ligand interactions; endocytic/internalization mechanisms) and ability to design mechanistic experiments.
- Direct experience with lentiviral vectors and transduction workflows, including assay development and optimization in cell lines and/or primary cells.
- Strong data analysis and scientific communication skills; demonstrated ability to drive decisions with clear, reproducible results.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with pseudovirus or live-virus entry/neutralization assays under BSL2/BSL2+ preferred
- High‑throughput/automated assay development, liquid handling, and/or screening experience a plus
- Record of publications/patents in receptor biology, viral entry, or vector technologies.
Responsibilities
- Lead and contribute to research focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of enveloped virus entry.
- Design and execute experiments to characterize the interactions between viral glycoproteins and host cell receptors.
- Design, develop, and validate robust cell-based assays probing: receptor expression/localization and ligand/virus binding; internalization/endocytosis pathways; functional readouts by flow cytometry, high‑content/fluorescence microscopy, and reporter assays.
- Utilize lentiviral vector systems to study the transduction of target cells and to develop novel gene delivery platforms.
- Establish scalable, reproducible workflows and SOPs; implement assay performance criteria and QC.
- Integrate data with cross-functional partners (protein/vector engineering, analytics, translational, process/CMC) to inform target selection, vector design, and process improvements.
- Present research findings at internal and external scientific meetings
Benefits
- Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
- Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits: Vacation –120 hours per calendar year, Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year, Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year, Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year, Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child, Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year, Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days, Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year, Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
- For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
