Scientist I, Molecular Biology — CHO Cell Line Dev

AbbVie; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. in South San Francisco, CA, seeks a Scientist I for cell line development and molecular characterization to advance GMP CHO cell lines. You will plan and execute experiments, design expression vectors, and perform sequencing-based quality controls to support IND through BLA stages.

Responsibilities include documenting results, training colleagues, and communicating plans to cross‑functional partners, with an emphasis on data quality and reproducibility in a GMP environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education with typically 5 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree or equivalent education with typically 2 years.
• Strong understanding of molecular and mammalian cell biology, CHO cell‑line development, and relevant bioprocess concepts.
• Ability to independently design and conduct critical experiments, generate reliable and reproducible data, draw sound conclusions, and troubleshoot experiments and instrumentation.
• Hands‑on proficiency in cloning, plasmid preparation, DNA digests/gels, PCR/qPCR, ddPCR, DNA/RNA isolation and sequencing, and mammalian cell culture using sterile technique.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, conduct, analyze, and document critical experiments supporting CHO cell-line development, cell-bank qualification, and candidate progression; assess data quality, troubleshoot results, and recommend next steps.
• Design and generate expression vectors for monoclonal antibodies and antibody‑like molecules; improve cloning, plasmid QC, and whole‑plasmid sequencing workflows.
• Characterize CHO cell banks for identity and transgene DNA/RNA quality using PCR/qPCR, ddPCR, DNA/RNA isolation, sequencing, and related assays.
• Develop and optimize NGS workflows, including RNA‑seq and molecular screening; interpret sequencing data and establish fit‑for‑purpose quality controls.
• Author and review technical reports and documentation supporting regulated development from IND through BLA, following good documentation practices.
• Maintain protocols, tools, trackers, reference datasets, and inventories that improve reproducibility, traceability, and laboratory efficiency.
• Communicate scientific plans, results, and recommendations to cross‑functional partners and external collaborators; document workflows and train colleagues as appropriate.
• Read, critically evaluate, and adapt scientific literature to guide experimental design and technical progress; independently implement appropriately scoped method and workflow improvements.

Skills

Molecular biology

CHO cell-line development

Cloning

PCR/qPCR

ddPCR

DNA/RNA isolation

NGS

RNA-seq

Mammalian cell culture

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

Illumina sequencing

Nanopore sequencing

Geneious

IGV

FASTQC

Samtools

Job description

AbbVie Inc. in South San Francisco, CA, seeks a Scientist I for cell line development and molecular characterization to advance GMP CHO cell lines. You will plan and execute experiments, design expression vectors, and perform sequencing-based quality controls to support IND through BLA stages.

Responsibilities include documenting results, training colleagues, and communicating plans to cross‑functional partners, with an emphasis on data quality and reproducibility in a GMP environment.