2027 PDS&T Bioassay Scientist Co-Op (June - Dec)

AbbVie; California; On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Housing support for eligible students

Wellness benefits & paid holidays

Job summary

AbbVie in Irvine, CA is offering a bioassay scientist Co‑Op (6 months) focusing on bioassay method development and cell engineering. The role requires hands‑on experience in cell culture, genetic editing, and analytical techniques as part of a cross‑functional biotech team.

You will design experiments, interpret data, and contribute to publications and patents while collaborating with scientists across disciplines. Enrollment in a relevant Master’s program and June start are required.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in university pursuing a Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Science, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Pharmacology or related fields.
• Must be enrolled in university at the time of the Co-Op.
• Must commit to a 6-month program at AbbVie’s Irvine, CA (June- December).
• Expected graduation date between May 2028 – Dec 2028.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently while collaborating with scientists and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to develop comprehensive test plans and evaluate design concepts.
• Understanding of relevant scientific literature and ability to apply theoretical framework to problems.
• Detail-oriented with track record of reliable results.
• Good oral communication and technical writing skills are required.
• Practical experience and knowledge of cell culture, bioassay, cell-cycle control, PCR, Western blot, fluorescence microscopy, etc.

Responsibilities

• Function as an Analytical Scientist: Generate original technical ideas and research or development strategies related to bioassay and cell engineering.
• Project Understanding: Understand broad objectives and the role in achieving them; modify plans as needed.
• Design and Execute Experiments: Independently design, execute, and interpret critical experiments.
• Innovate Experimental Protocols: Develop new protocols to advance the project.
• Demonstrate Proficiency: Show high proficiency in relevant scientific/technical fields.
• Set and Meet Timelines: Establish timelines to ensure progress.
• Engage with Scientific Literature: Read and apply literature; contribute to publications and patents.
• Organize and Present Data: Present plans and data in meetings, reports, and presentations.

Skills

Bioassay development

Cell culture

Molecular biology

PCR

Western blot

Fluorescence microscopy

Cell line development

Gene editing

Flow cytometry

qPCR

Education

Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology or related field

Tools

CRISPR

PCR

Western blot

Fluorescence microscopy

Flow cytometry

Cell culture

qPCR

Job description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Envision working with energetic colleagues and inspirational leaders, all while gaining world-class experience in one of the most dynamic organizations in the pharmaceutical industry. This is a reality for AbbVie’s Co-Ops.This is a work experience and is not intended to support a thesis.

The PDS&T Toxins group within Operations Science & Technology - Biologics organization supports manufacturing, process validation, regulatory submission, and continuous improvement for late-stage and commercial manufacturing of biological toxins products in AbbVie. We have an exciting opportunity for a bioassay scientist position based in Irvine, CA. This role involves leveraging scientific and bioengineering principles to develop bioassay methods with next-generation cell lines. The candidate must possess in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in a range of techniques, including but not limited to cell culture, bioassay, genetic editing, cell line development, cell sorting, cell-cycle control, PCR, Western blot, fluorescence microscopy, etc. Moreover, excellent communication skills and the ability to thrive in a multi-disciplinary and cross-functional team environment are essential for success in this role.

Key responsibilities include:

• Function as an Analytical Scientist: Generate original technical ideas and research or development strategies related to bioassay and cell engineering.
• Project Understanding: Understand the broad objectives of the project and the specific role in achieving them. Modify the experimental plan as needed to respond to new data or project needs.
• Design and Execute Experiments: Independently design, execute, and interpret critical experiments to address scientific questions.
• Innovate Experimental Protocols: Innovate and implement new experimental protocols to advance the project.
• Demonstrate Proficiency: Exhibit a high level of proficiency in relevant scientific and technical fields.
• Set and Meet Timelines: Establish and adhere to experimental timelines to ensure timely progress and results.
• Engage with Scientific Literature: Regularly read and apply relevant scientific literature to stay updated on advancements. Contribute to writing and the conceptual framework of publications, presentations, and patents.
• Organize and Present Data: Effectively organize and present scientific plans and data in meetings, reports, and presentations.

MinimumQualifications

• Currently enrolled in university, pursuing aMaster’s degreein Cell and Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Science, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Pharmacology or other related fields.
• Must be enrolled in university at the time of the Co-Op.
• Must be able to commit to a 6-month program at AbbVie’s Irvine, CA (June- December).
• Expected graduation date between May 2028 – Dec 2028.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with scientists and cross-functional team members.
• Ability to develop comprehensive test plans and evaluate design concepts.
• Understanding of relevant scientific literature and ability to apply the theoretical framework to solving problems within the scientific discipline in a timely manner.
• Detail-oriented with a good track record of delivering reliable and consistent results.
• Good oral communication skills, as well as sound technical writing and documentation competencies, are required.
• Practical experience and knowledge of cell culture, bioassay, cell-cycle control, PCR, Western blot, fluorescence microscopy, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with neuronal or other differentiated cell models.
• Knowledge on genome editing, cell line development, cell sorting is a plus
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy, gene-editing techniques, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and qPCR.
• Experience using statistical or data-analysis software, such as JMP, PLA, or comparable tools.

Benefits and Amenities

• Competitive pay
• Housing support for eligible students
• Select wellness benefits and paid holiday / sick time

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at thetimeofthis posting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographiclocation,andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.Theamountandavailabilityof anybonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or anyother form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company'ssoleandabsolutediscretion unless and until paid andmay bemodifiedat the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent withapplicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html