Scientist II - Molecular Analytics & NGS

UCB Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 99,200 - 130,200; Full time

Job summary

UCB is seeking a Scientist II in Upstream Process Development and Bioprocess Analytics within the Gene Therapy Vector Core to advance AAV platform development. The role emphasizes analytical method development including ddPCR/qPCR and NGS, plus cell-based potency assays for product characterization.

The candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements, optimize assays, and ensure robust data generation supporting drug discovery and development efforts.

Qualifications

• MS in Molecular Biology or related field with 10+ years experience, OR PhD/Postdoc with 2+ years.
• 4+ years PCR-based assay development and molecular characterization of AAVs or biomolecular characterization for gene therapies.
• 4+ years of NGS development (long and/or short read) for genomic and transcriptomic analyses in early drug discovery and analytics.
• 4+ years of experience serving as a functional representative in multidisciplinary drug discovery project teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of custom molecular assays, including ddPCR and qPCR, to support gene therapy analytics.
• Optimize and apply next generation sequencing technologies to characterize impurities and heterogeneity in AAV products.
• Guide or run cell-based potency assays to evaluate biological function and activity.
• Support gene therapy platform development through evolving analytical methodologies and cross-team collaborations.
• Interact with data scientists, cell biologists, disease area experts, and CMC professionals to ensure project alignment.
• Document experimental work with high quality and manage competing priorities across teams.

Skills

PCR-based assay

Molecular characterization

NGS development

Cross-functional team

Education

MS in Molecular Biology

PhD or Postdoc

Tools

Illumina sequencing

PacBio sequencing

Job description

Scientist II – Upstream Process Development and Bioprocess Analytics

The Gene Therapy Vector Core group is seeking a Scientist II in Upstream Process Development and Bioprocess Analytics team to support genetic medicine projects and AAV gene therapy platform development. The candidate will develop analytical methods including short‑ and long‑read NGS, cell‑based potency assays for AAV, and ddPCR assay development, and support routine testing for characterization of research grade materials and guide process development activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of custom molecular assays, including ddPCR and qPCR, to support gene therapy analytics
• Optimize and apply cutting‑edge next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to characterize impurities and assess heterogeneity in AAV drug products
• Utilize strong biology foundations to guide or run cell‑based potency assays to evaluate biological function and activity
• Support gene therapy platform development through evolving analytical methodologies and cross‑team collaborations, including capsid engineering
• Function independently and cross‑functionally across various UCB teams (data scientists, cell biologists, disease area experts, CMC professionals, etc.)
• Manage priorities, engage and communicate in a multidisciplinary environment, and provide exemplary documentation of experimental work

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

• MS degree in Molecular Biology or related field, with over 10 years of experience – OR – PhD or Post Doc with 2+ years of experience
• 4+ years of expertise in PCR‑based assay development and molecular characterization of AAVs or biomolecular characterization for gene therapies
• 4+ years of NGS (long and/or short read technology) development experience (genomic DNA, targeted amplicon, small RNA, and RNA‑seq) for genomic and transcriptomic analyses in early drug discovery and drug substance analytics
• 4+ years of experience serving as a functional representative in multidisciplinary drug discovery project teams

Preferred Education, Skills, and Experience

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related field with direct AAV characterization experience supporting molecular analytics of AAV vectors
• 6+ years of experience in molecular analytical characterization of AAV vectors
• 6+ years of hands‑on experience with NGS library preparation, Illumina and PacBio data acquisition and QC to support drug discovery activities
• At least 6 years of experience in drug discovery or development in a pre‑clinical setting focusing on molecular characterization, analytical method development, characterizing impurities, and identifying biological complexities
• Serve as the primary owner of developing, optimizing, and/or routinely conducting cell‑based potency assays to evaluate biological function and activity

Salary

This position's reasonably anticipated base salary range is $99,200 to $130,200 per year. The actual salary offered will consider internal equity and may also vary depending on the candidate's region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors.

EEO Statement

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. UCB invites you to voluntarily self‑identify during the application process. Provision of self‑identification information is entirely voluntary and a decision to provide or not provide such information will not have any effect on your application for employment, your employment with UCB, or otherwise subject you to any adverse treatment. Any information you provide will be considered confidential and will be kept separate from your application and/or personnel file and will only be used in accordance with applicable laws, orders, and regulations.