Scientist II / Senior Scientist I, tLNP Process Development

AbbVie Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. in the United States seeks a scientist to join the tLNP Process Development team. You will advance mRNA-LNP process development, including encapsulation, bioconjugation, and tangential flow filtration (TFF).

The role emphasizes automation, data workflows, collaboration across Biologics CMC and Synthetic Molecule CMC, and advancing processes to pre-clinical and GMP scale. Mentorship and cross-functional teamwork are expected.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioengineering, or related field.
• Senior Scientist I: BS with 10+ years, MS 8+ years, PhD 0+ years.
• Scientist II: BS 7+ years, MS 5+ years.
• Experience with LNP mixing technology in labs or industry.
• Thorough understanding of mRNA encapsulation and bioconjugation.
• Ability to independently design, execute, and interpret experiments.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute and interpret critical experiments on mRNA encapsulation, bioconjugation, and TFF.
• Work autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Initiate new investigation areas relevant to tLNP process development.
• Demonstrate proficiency across technologies relevant to tLNP development.
• Mentor others and publish or present findings when appropriate.
• Develop and implement automation solutions for lab processes.
• Apply AI tools for data capture, analysis, and modeling.
• Ensure GMP compliance and safety standards.

Skills

mRNA-LNP process

Automation

TFF

Bioconjugation

Experimental design

GMP compliance

Regulatory writing

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Chemistry or related field

Tools

Automation hardware

Data workflows

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,Xand YouTube.

Job Description

Targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) represent a key new modality to enable effective delivery of mRNA. The tLNP chemistry, manufacturing, and control (CMC) team (TCT) is a newly formed group under Biologics CMC, Development Sciences, R&D. TCT focuses on process development for tLNPs, including mRNA process development, tLNP process development, and formulation development.

The tLNP Process Development team is seeking a highly motivated, talented, and innovative scientist with expertise in mRNA-LNP process development and an interest in laboratory automation. This teamis responsible forthe end-to-end manufacturing process from purified mRNA to purifiedtLNPbulk drug product, including encapsulating mRNA with lipid components to form LNPs, conjugating LNPs with a targeting moiety, and purifying the finaltLNPsvia tangential flow filtration (TFF).

The successful candidate will help advance fundamental understanding of tLNP unit operations, such as mRNA encapsulation, bioconjugation, and TFF, as well as scaling up lab processes into pre-clinical, clinical, and commercial scale manufacturing processes. The candidate will also apply automation expertise to integrate off-the-shelf and custom-built hardware, software, and data workflows into flexible experimental platforms that increase throughput, reproducibility, and process understanding.

The end goal for tLNP Process Development team is to deliver a robust manufacturing process at commercial scale. This includes science-based, hands-on approaches in the lab to optimize process parameters and understand the impact of process parameters on critical quality attributes. First-principle-based and statistical modeling will be applied where appropriate. Along the pharmaceutical development life cycle, the team will be responsible for successful production of non-GMP pre-clinical safety study supplies and GMP clinical study supplies from a manufacturing plant on site or at third party manufacturers. The team will also lead the tech transfer of commercial processes into a commercial facility. Additionally, the team reviews appropriate sections of Common Technical Document (CTD) for regulatory submissions.

Success in this role depends on close collaboration with the mRNA process development, drug product development, and analytical development, digital and automation partners, as well as cross-functional partners across Biologics CMC and Synthetic Molecule CMC. The work directly advancescutting-edgemRNA-based therapeutics.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, execute and interpret critical experiments to understand unit operations such as mRNA encapsulation, bioconjugation, and tangential flow filtration, and scale up these unit operations to commercial manufacturing batch size.
• Highly autonomous and productive in performing laboratory research or method development, requiring minimal direction from supervisor.
• May initiate new areas of investigation that are scientifically meaningful, reliable, and can be incorporated directly into a research or development program.
• Demonstrates high proficiency across a wide range of technologies relevant to tLNP process development.
• Formulate conclusions and design follow‑on experiments based on multidisciplinary data.
• Primary author of publications, presentations, regulatory documents and/or primary inventor of patents.
• Proactively develop and implement innovative automation solutions (custom and off‑the‑shelf equipment).
• Apply AI tools for structured data capture, analysis, and predictive modeling.
• Understand and adhere to corporate standards regarding code of conduct, safety, appropriate handling of materials, and GMP compliance.
• Direct mentorship of others.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD degree in Chemistry, Material Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Senior Scientist I: BS with 10+ years', MS with 8+ years', and PhD with 0+ years' industry experience.
• Scientist II: BS with 7+ years', MS with 5+ years' industry experience.
• Experience with LNP mixing technology in an academic lab, or industry experience with LNP drug product process development. For mRNA encapsulation, experience with systems such as impinging jet, coaxial jet, or multi‑inlet vortex mixer is required.
• Possess thorough theoretical and practical understanding of mRNA encapsulation.
• Experience with bioconjugation is required.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and interpret critical experiments to answer scientific questions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn, understand, and master new experimental techniques.
• Ability to multitask and work within timelines.
• Demonstrated scientific writing skills and strong verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience scaling up LNP processes to gram‑scale mRNA or above.
• Prior experience with automating existing experimental setups as well as new automation equipment and ecosystems, such as Ignition.

Additional Information

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.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
• This job is eligible toparticipatein our short‑term incentiveprograms.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.Theamountandavailabilityof anybonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or any other 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.

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