Senior Research Scientist

ICON; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave entitlements

Health insurance offerings

Competitive retirement planning

LifeWorks EAP (global)

Life assurance

Flexible country-specific benefits

Job summary

ICON is seeking a Sr. Research Scientist in Wilmington, DE. You will independently design and optimize recombinant protein constructs, perform mammalian and insect expression, and develop purification workflows.

You will QC samples for structural studies and biophysical assays, troubleshoot challenges, and collaborate across cross-functional teams to accelerate drug discovery programs. The role emphasizes hands-on protein chemistry, antibody purification, analytical QC, and generation of

Qualifications

• PhD or a Master’s with extensive drug discovery experience.
• Hands-on protein expression, purification, and biophysical QC.
• Experience purifying antibodies or fragments and QC workflows.

Responsibilities

• Independently design and optimize recombinant protein constructs for expression.
• Transfect and maintain mammalian cells; produce proteins in Sf9 and mammalian systems.
• Purify proteins using affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, SEC.
• Purify antibodies/Frags; perform QC for purity and aggregation.
• Characterize proteins/antibodies with SEC-HPLC, DSF, BLI, SPR.
• Ensure quality criteria for samples used in structural studies and assays.
• Troubleshoot expression and purification to improve yield and quality.
• Generate samples for X-ray/cryo-EM and biophysical studies.

Skills

Protein expression

Purification

Biophysical characterization

Antibody purification

Analytical QC

Chromatography

SEC-HPLC

DSF

BLI

SPR

Education

PhD in Biochemistry/ Biophysics/ Structural Biology

Master's degree + 5 years relevant experience

Tools

Baculovirus expression system

Sf9 cells

Mammalian cell culture

HPLC

Job description

Sr. Research Scientist - Wilmington, DE

At ICON Strategic Solutions, you will work in a sponsor-dedicated model, supported by ICON’s global expertise.

As the world’s largest FSP organisation, with over 90 sponsor partnerships, we offer stability, career development and a collaborative environment where your work contributes to the development of treatments that benefit patients worldwide.

• Independently design and optimize recombinant protein constructs for expression and downstream applications.
• Perform transfection of plasmids into mammalian cells, cell line maintenance, generation of baculovirus, and protein expression in insect (Sf9) and mammalian systems.
• Express recombinant proteins using bacterial expression systems and optimize conditions to maximize yield, solubility, and quality.
• Develop, optimize, and execute protein purification workflows using chromatography techniques includingaffinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC).
• Develop and execute purification strategies for antibodies, antibody fragments, and antibody-containing complexes.
• Performantibody purification and QC, including assessment of purity, aggregation, integrity, concentration, and overall sample quality using appropriate analytical methods.
• Characterize purified proteins and antibodies using a broad range ofbiochemical and biophysical techniques, including analytical SEC/HPLC, SDS-PAGE, intact-mass analysis where applicable, DSF/thermal shift assays, BLI, SPR, and other analytical assays.
• Establish and applyprotein and antibody quality-control criteriato ensure samples are suitable for structural studies, binding assays, biochemical assays, immunization campaigns, and other downstream applications.
• Evaluate protein and antibody stability, homogeneity, aggregation state, concentration, and batch-to-batch consistency; identify potential quality issues and implement appropriate corrective strategies.
• Troubleshoot recombinant protein and antibody expression, purification, and stability challenges to improve yield, purity, monodispersity, and functional quality.
• Generate high-quality protein samples and protein complexes forX-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, biophysical studies, biochemical assays, and other structural biology applications.
• Support antibody discovery programs by providing purified and well-characterized antibody molecules and complexes for downstream functional and structural characterization.
• Independently plan and execute small- and large-scale expression, purification, and characterization experiments while effectively managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Contribute to the daily operations of a highly productive protein production laboratory, including maintaining equipment, improving workflows, and supporting laboratory development and technology implementation.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, communicate results clearly, and make data-driven recommendations that can influence program strategy and decision-making.
• Collaborate effectively with protein engineers, structural biologists, assay scientists, computational scientists, and project teams in a highly matrixed environment.
• Contribute to the development and implementation ofAI-enabled and technology-driven approachesto accelerate protein production, characterization, structural biology, and drug discovery workflows.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and communicate results through presentations, written reports, and cross-functional project meetings.
• Work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining high scientific and operational standards.

Requirements

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Protein Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, or a related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience in drug discovery, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, or an academic laboratory.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise inprotein chemistry, recombinant protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization.
• Experience with purification and characterization ofantibodies and/or antibody fragments, including development and optimization of purification workflows and analytical QC.
• Demonstrated experience evaluatingprotein and antibody purity, homogeneity, aggregation, stability, integrity, and suitability for downstream applications.
• Proficiency with chromatography-based purification techniques, including affinity, ion exchange, and SEC.
• Experience with analytical and biophysical techniques such asSEC-HPLC, DSF/thermal stability assays, BLI, SPR.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot challenging protein expression and purification problems and independently develop effective solutions.
• Proven experience supportingdrug discovery programs through protein chemistry.
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects, prioritize competing demands, and deliver high-quality results on established timelines.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively incross-functional and matrixed teams.
• Self-driven, creative, scientifically curious, and entrepreneurial, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving research environment.

What ICON can offer you:

Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well-being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements
• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well-being.
• Life assurance
• Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here

Interested in the role, but unsure if you meet all of the requirements? We would encourage you to apply regardless – there’s every chance you’re exactly what we’re looking for here at ICON whether it is for this or other roles.

Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply