Scientist I, Multi-Specifics Expression

BioSpace; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Job summary

AbbVie Biotherapeutics and Genetic Medicine seeks a protein expression scientist to join a high-throughput mammalian expression group. You will focus on CHO cell line engineering, expression of complex biologics, and comprehensive characterization, integrating automation and data digitization to enable scalable workflows.

You will work on 1–200 L scales, contribute to discovery efforts, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance innovative medicines for patients.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in biology/biochemistry or related field with relevant experience.
• Hands-on cell culture and expression of antibodies/multi-specifics in CHO cells.
• Experience in stable CHO lines, process development, and automation is preferred.
• Experience with targeted integration, FACS, ddPCR desirable.

Responsibilities

• Express novel multi-specific biologics in CHO cells and screen stable lines.
• Optimize clone selection, chain ratios for multi-chain molecules.
• Develop batch and fed-batch expression processes in bioreactors.
• Characterize line copy number and mRNA levels; support data reporting.
• Leverage automation and high-throughput workflows to improve efficiency.
• Troubleshoot expression, stability, glycosylation, and aggregation issues.
• Prepare samples for purification and biophysical characterization.

Skills

Cell culture experience

Biologics expression

Analytical characterization

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in biology/biochemistry/related field

5+ years (BS) or 2+ years (MS) experience

Tools

FACS

ddPCR

Wave bioreactors

Analytical HPLC

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.

Overview

Job Description

AbbVie Biotherapeutics and Genetic Medicine is an integrated, global discovery organization responsible for biotherapeutics drug research across disease areas including immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. Our scope includes the discovery of innovative biologic medicines from the early exploratory stage and their support through clinical development. We are growing a world-class team of scientists and leaders who will drive the discovery and advancement of innovative biologic-based therapies. Careers in AbbVie Biotherapeutics and Genetic Medicine provide unique opportunities to work with cross-functional teams that drive exceptional science and deliver innovative medicines to patients. We are looking for diverse candidates with strong scientific and leadership experience to join the team and can offer exciting and rewarding career opportunities for these candidates.

The Biotherapeutics Production group at AbbVie is seeking an experienced protein expression scientist to join a fast paced, high throughput, large scale mammalian expression group. This role will focus on CHO cell line engineering biologics, protein expression, and characterization of complex biotherapeutics, including multi-specific, while incorporating modern capabilities in automation and data digitization to enable efficient and scalable workflows. The Biotherapeutics mammalian expression group supports research scale (1 to 200L) expression of biologics in support of AbbVie’s worldwide drug discovery efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Expression of novel multi-specific biologics formats to support therapeutic area drug discovery projects.
• Generation and screening of stable CHO cell lines with optimized attributes (i.e. titer, monomer, chain-pairing) using 2 or more vectors.
• Determine optimal chain ratio for 3- and 4-chain molecules in CHO cells using multiple selection strategies and process optimization.
• Process development and optimization for batch and fed-batch bioreactor and shake flask expressions of stable CHO cell lines expressing complex multi-chain molecules.
• Characterization of stable CHO line copy number and mRNA transcript levels using ddPCR and related molecular tools.
• Apply targeted integration technologies using screening workflows, including FACS-based single-cell sorting to generate mini pools.
• Implement and leverage automation platforms and high-throughput workflows to increase efficiency.
• Contribute to data digitization efforts, including electronic data capture, analysis, and reporting.
• Troubleshoot challenges related to expression, stability, glycosylation, aggregation, and chain pairing.
• Purification and biophysical characterization of analytical scale expression samples, using analytical HPLC to evaluate titer, monomer, and chain pairing efficiency.
• Work independently on the design, execution, and interpretation of experimental results.
• Analyze, document, and report data concisely and rigorously.
• Handling stable CHO pools and cell lines including thaw, culture, expression and cryopreservation.

Qualifications

• Position will be hired based on level of experience and education
• Bachelors or Master’s in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or related field with typically 5+ (BS) or 2+ (MS) years of experience.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture and expression of monoclonal antibodies, bi-specifics and multi-specifics in CHO cells lines including thaw, culture, expression and cryopreservation.
• Prior experience in generation of stable CHO cell lines expressing complex multi-specific molecules.
• Prior experience in process development, process optimization, and automation.
• Experience with analytical characterization of multi-specifics desirable.
• Experience with targeted integration, FACS, and ddPCR desirable.
• Demonstrated proficiency in vector design is desirable.
• Prior experience in mammalian expression using Wave bioreactors desirable.
• Demonstrated proficiency in overcoming problems (i.e. poor chain pairing, low expression, aggregation, glycosylation) with challenging therapeutic multi-specific proteins desirable.

Additional Information

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

The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this roleat the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount isearned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that areallocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolutediscretion, consistent with applicable 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

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