Postdoctoral Fellow, Peptide Process Development

AbbVie Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) team in PDS&T to conduct independent, publishable research in peptide synthesis process development.

You will design and execute experiments, analyze data, and collaborate with multidisciplinary partners to advance peptide drug substance manufacturing. The role emphasizes independence, scientific communication, and contribution to patents and internal knowledge sharing while

Qualifications

• PhD in organic chemistry or peptide chemistry, awarded recently or expected before start date.
• Strong practical experience in organic synthesis, chromatographic separations, and analytical chemistry (HPLC, LC-MS, NMR).
• Hands-on experience with peptide synthesis, purification, isolation, and analysis.
• Proven scientific productivity: publications or presentations.
• Excellent problem-solving, data interpretation and scientific judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Plan and perform solution-phase and solid-phase peptide synthesis and isolation.
• Design and execute hypothesis-driven experiments, including DoE studies, to advance platform development.
• Apply analytical methods (HPLC, LC-MS, NMR) to advance peptide process development.
• Collaborate with engineering and analytical sciences to develop scalable peptide manufacture processes.
• Independently troubleshoot technical challenges and propose follow-up experiments.
• Communicate plans, progress and results through presentations and updates.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences; contribute to internal communications.
• Keep abreast of literature and emerging technologies in peptide chemistry.
• Ensure safety, quality, compliance and documentation in all work.
• Participate in mentoring and career development to build independence.

Job description

Company 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.

Job Description

Purpose: We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) team in PDS&T to conduct independent, publishable research in peptide synthesis process development. Working under the mentorship of senior process chemists, the successful candidate will apply advanced expertise in organic and peptide chemistry to support platform development for the synthesis and isolation of peptide intermediates and drug substances. The successful candidate will design and execute experiments, analyze and interpret data, collaborate with multidisciplinary partners, and contribute to scientific publications, presentations, and internal knowledge sharing. The goal of this position is to generate new insights, methods, and capabilities that advance peptide process development in PDS&T and support innovation in peptide drug substance manufacturing, while building the candidate's independence as a scientist.

Responsibilities

• Plan and perform solution-phase and solid-phase synthesis of peptides and protected peptide fragments, including coupling, deprotection, resin cleavage, fragment condensation, and isolation.
• Design, plan, and execute hypothesis-driven experiments, including mechanistic, kinetic, and design-of-experiment (DoE) studies, to advance platform development and process understanding of peptide synthesis and isolation.
• Apply relevant analytical and computational methods, such as HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, solubility studies, and impurity profiling, to advance peptide process development.
• Collaborate with engineering and analytical sciences partners to develop robust, scalable processes for peptide manufacture and isolation.
• Independently troubleshoot technical challenges and recommend follow-up experiments or alternative approaches.
• Communicate scientific plans, progress, results, and recommendations through presentations and written updates.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present at external scientific conferences and contribute to patent filings and internal scientific communications as appropriate.
• Maintain awareness of relevant scientific literature, emerging technologies, and external developments in the field.
• Ensure work is conducted in alignment with applicable safety, quality, compliance, and documentation expectations.
• Participate in mentoring, training, and career-development activities to build independence in research design, project leadership, and scientific communication.

Qualifications

• PhD in organic chemistry, peptide chemistry, or a closely related discipline, awarded recently or expected before the start date.
• Strong practical experience and theoretical background in organic synthetic techniques, chromatographic separations, and analytical chemistry (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, and NMR).
• Hands-on experience with solution-phase or solid-phase peptide synthesis, protecting-group selection, and peptide isolation, purification, and analysis is strongly preferred.
• Strong record of scientific productivity, including publications, presentations, or demonstrated research accomplishments.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, data interpretation, and scientific judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex scientific concepts clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while seeking input and feedback from peers and supervisors.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary, diverse, and fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.

Additional Information

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