Senior Scientist, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME

Takeda•Cambridge, MA

1d•$137,000 - $215,270•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Scientist, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME is a scientist experienced in designing and implementing in vitro ADME assays at scale to support small- and large-molecule discovery programs. This role is a key member of a newly formed team that is designing and building Takeda’s high-throughput in vitro ADME capabilities as part of the Labs of Tomorrow initiative. Reporting to the Director, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME, within the Discovery Automation and Robotics (DAR) department, this Senior Scientist will design, implement, and operate assays based on a fundamental understanding of ADME principles, while driving technology innovation at the interface of ADME science, laboratory automation, and robotics. The High-Throughput In Vitro ADME team delivers robust, fit for purpose ADME data to enable rapid, high-confidence decision-making in Design–Make–Test–Analyze (DMTA) cycles across the portfolio.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Analytical Chemistry or related field with 3+ years of relevant experience; MS with 9+; or BS with 11+ years
Expertise in in vitro ADME, including method development, validation, and deployment across core assay types.
Experience in an organization providing ADME services (e.g., CRO or internal ADME service group), with a strong service- and customer-oriented mindset.
Demonstrated ability to maintain/own data quality in a time constrained environment.
Demonstrated hands-on experience with laboratory automation and robotics, including implementation, troubleshooting, maintenance, coordinating service/support with vendors
Successful track record in miniaturizing ADME assays formats, including optimization for data quality, robustness, and throughput.
Familiarity with LIMS/ELN, instrument integration, and data analysis/visualization tools in a high-throughput setting.
Understanding of how in vitro ADME data is integrated into a Discovery Program along with PK/PD, mechanistic ADME and Drug Safety.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting small-molecules (required) and large-molecule discovery programs preferred.

Responsibilities

Mentor scientists and research associates who are involved in the routine delivery of in vitro ADME assays.
Demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with a culture of scientific rigor, operational excellence, safety, and customer focus, supported by clear KPIs (e.g., cycle time, success rate, capacity utilization, cost-per-data point).
Bring a team first mentality to personal/scientific responsibility.
Design, execute, and continuously improve assays as part of a broad high throughput in vitro ADME panel, to include but not be limited to Physiochemical characterization, Kinetic solubility, Log D, etc., Metabolic stability (Microsomes, Hepatocytes, S9 in Human and Preclinical species, Supersomes, Metabolic soft spot determination), Permeability (MDCK, Caco-2, PAMPA), Distribution/Free Fraction (Plasma Protein Binding, Whole Blood Partitioning, Tissue Binding), Reaction Phenotyping (CYPs, AO, Phase 2 enzymes), Efflux Transporters, Drug-Drug interactions (CYP inhibition and induction, Transporter inhibition), Safety liabilities (hERG, SynchroPatch).
Build and adapt assays as required to meet the diversity of both small-molecule and large-molecule modalities. Maintaining a flexible mindset to ensure that assays meet the needs of the new modalities and platforms as the portfolio evolves.
Own assays (and associated data) that you have developed from validation through production.
Bring a laboratory automation and robotics mindset to the in vitro ADME space, in close alignment with the Director, High Throughput in Vitro ADME.
Be a champion for assay miniaturization to increase throughput/speed while maintaining assay quality and reducing costs.
Integrate liquid handlers, plate handlers, robotic arms, incubators, plate readers, mass spectrometers and scheduling software into end-to-end automated workflows.
Partner with internal automation/engineering and informatics teams to ensure seamless connectivity between instruments, LIMS/ELN, data pipelines, and analytical platforms.
Interface with DMPK, medicinal chemistry, biology, pharmacology, translational sciences, and data science. To understand how data from the assays you build will be interpreted and integrated into Discovery programs and AI learning.
In partnership with the Director, High Throughput in Vitro ADME modify/adjust assays to meet the needs of the portfolio.
Use commercial solutions when suitable/available but demonstrate a willingness to design and build assays/processes with internal partners to ensure an assay brings the needed data at scale as required.
Design and implement assays that ensure scientific quality, data integrity, and safety consistent with Takeda policies and relevant regulatory expectations.
Maintain KPIs for throughput, on-time delivery, reproducibility, and cost; apply data-driven methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, DoE) to drive continuous improvement.
Openly participate in investigations and CAPA implementation related to assay performance, automation reliability, or data issues.