Research Senior Associate

Takeda•Boston, MA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. is seeking a Research Senior Associate to design and execute antibody discovery campaigns using full-length IgG yeast display and phage display platforms. The role applies platform-specific selection strategies to maximize hit diversity and developability, and collaborates with computational teams to experimentally evaluate de novo antibody designs using yeast display. The Research Senior Associate independently leads end-to-end discovery campaigns, from library construction and FACS selection strategy development through sequencing analysis, clone triage, and hit confirmation. The role uses Python-based scripts, data visualization tools, and agentic AI-enabled workflows for high-throughput screening, sequence-function analysis, and analysis of multidimensional antibody-discovery datasets. It also performs NGS-based campaign analysis, including clone enrichment, lineage tracking, sequence prioritization, and identification of productive binders across selection rounds. The position designs and leads multistage experiments to advance biotherapeutic candidates from target validation through lead optimization, with attention to developability and affinity. Work includes constructing immune antibody libraries from mice, humanized transgenic mice, and llamas in formats such as Fab, IgG, sdAb, and HCAb; mammalian cell culture; ELISA; multiparameter flow cytometry; and high-throughput cell sorting for single-B-cell and yeast workflows. The role screens and characterizes campaign outputs using biophysical, cell-based, and developability assays, including BLI, on-cell binding, polyspecificity, stability, and expression analyses. Additional duties include designing molecular cloning strategies and applying molecular biology techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, restriction-enzyme cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and library generation. The Research Senior Associate leads troubleshooting and scientific problem-solving within discovery programs, performs quantitative data analysis, and formulates mechanistic hypotheses to guide program decisions. Up to 20% remote work is allowed.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a related field.
At least 30 months of related experience.
Experience designing and executing end-to-end antibody discovery campaigns on a bicistronic phage display platform, advancing immune Fab and single-domain libraries through helper/hyperphage rescue and biopanning selection strategies.
Experience leading phage-based antibody discovery campaigns against complex targets, including GPCRs, HLAs, and the wider cell membrane proteome, and translating immune libraries into high-affinity functional binders.
Experience building NGS libraries from Fab and VHH antibody repertoires, including amplicon-based library preparation, indexing/barcoding, library QC, and preparation for Illumina sequencing.
Experience using multiparameter flow cytometry and FACS-based sorting, ELISA, and Octet-based BLI to confirm binding and resolve kinetic profiles.
Experience interpreting flow cytometry experimental and statistical data using FlowJo and GraphPad Prism; visualizing structures in PyMOL; and designing library construction and mutagenesis using Geneious Prime, Geneious Biologics, IgBLAST, SnapGene, or similar tools.
Experience constructing recombinant plasmids and libraries using molecular cloning, gene editing, RT-PCR, cDNA/DNA/RNA isolation, and Gibson assembly.
Experience executing high-throughput screening and automation workflows using liquid-handling systems and integrating automated processes.

Responsibilities

Design and execute in vitro antibody discovery campaigns using full-length IgG yeast display and phage display platforms.
Collaborate with computational teams to experimentally interrogate de novo antibody designs in yeast display.
Lead end-to-end discovery campaigns, including library construction, FACS selection strategy development, sequencing analysis, clone triage, and hit confirmation.
Develop and apply Python-based scripts, data visualization tools, and agentic AI-enabled workflows for screening and antibody-discovery data analysis.
Analyze NGS data from antibody discovery campaigns, including clone enrichment, lineage tracking, sequence prioritization, and identification of productive binders.
Design and lead multistage discovery experiments to advance biotherapeutic candidates from target validation through lead optimization.
Construct immune antibody libraries from diverse immune sources and in multiple antibody formats.
Perform mammalian cell culture, ELISA, multiparameter flow cytometry, and high-throughput cell sorting for single-B-cell and yeast workflows.
Screen and characterize discovery outputs using biophysical, cell-based, and developability assays, including BLI, on-cell binding, polyspecificity, stability, and expression analyses.
Design molecular cloning strategies for antibody variable gene amplification, combinatorial library construction, and display-library diversity generation.
Apply molecular biology techniques including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, restriction-enzyme cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and library generation.
Lead troubleshooting and scientific problem-solving efforts within discovery programs.
Perform quantitative data analysis and formulate mechanistic hypotheses to guide program decisions.