Senior Scientist, Spatial Assays

1525 JuN - Seattle Dexter; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

11 paid holidays

Stock opportunities

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb is seeking a senior scientist to lead the strategy, development, and lifecycle management of tissue-based biomarker assays, including IHC, ISH, and digital pathology methods. You will partner with translational teams and manage external CROs to ensure high-quality data across early and late development stages.

The role requires advanced degrees in life sciences and a proven track record in assay validation, translational endpoints, and cross-functional collaboration within a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Life Sciences with extensive industry experience.
• PhD preferred with 2+ years in industry.
• Proven ability to manage CROs and external labs.
• Experience in tissue-based biomarker assay development.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and lifecycle management of tissue-based biomarker assays.
• Oversee assay transfer to CROs and external labs with quality oversight.
• Develop and implement translational biomarker strategies for clinical programs.
• Coordinate with translational scientists and internal labs for endpoints.
• Define QC criteria, acceptance specs, and data review processes.
• Drive innovation in spatial/digital pathology and emerging tech.
• Provide mastery in assay validation, robustness studies, and reporting.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences

Master’s Degree in Life Sciences

Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Life Sciences

Strong scientific communication

Project management experience

Independent and collaborative work style

Experience with translational research environments

Tools

CosMx

COMET

GeoMx

RNAscope

Akoya

10x Genomics

Job description

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

The Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center is one of BMS’s differentiated research platforms delivering innovative therapies to patients. Our mission is to drive leadership in the use of cellular therapies to harness the power of the immune system in treating hematologic malignancies, solid cancers, and autoimmune disease. More specifically, our discovery and translational scientists are focused on developing next-generation, engineered cell-based therapies. The team is committed to discovering and developing transformative therapies that harness the power of the immune system to improve patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, design, development, optimization, qualification, validation, transfer, implementation, and lifecycle management of tissue-based biomarker assays, including IHC, ISH, multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), spatial and digital pathology platforms, supporting translational research and clinical development programs.
• Lead assay feasibility studies, antibody characterization and selection, panel development, staining optimization, orthogonal specificity assessments, analytical validation, robustness studies, indication expansion activities, and the development of novel pathology methodologies.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert (SME) for external laboratory partnerships (CROs), leading assay transfer, implementation, and lifecycle oversight to ensure robust assay performance, high-quality data generation, alignment of study reportables, comprehensive validation report review, and successful clinical implementation.
• Establish assay performance criteria, quality control measures, acceptance specifications, image analysis workflows, and data review processes; conduct laboratory studies supporting control material generation and assay verification to ensure high-quality, decision-ready biomarker data.
• Partner closely with translational scientists to develop fit‑for‑purpose biomarker and pathology assay strategies aligned with translational hypotheses, mechanism‑of‑action investigations, exploratory endpoints, pharmacodynamic assessments, and safety monitoring across early‑ and late‑stage development.
• Collaborate with internal Pathology laboratories to design, develop, and validate novel tissue‑based assays, leveraging preclinical data to guide assay strategy, enable clinically relevant translational endpoints, and support both program‑specific needs and portfolio‑wide standardization efforts.
• Interpret, analyze, and communicate assay validation data and scientific findings to multidisciplinary project teams and governance committees.
• Manage complex external collaborations and vendor relationships, including assay placement strategy, vendor selection, statement‑of‑work development, sample sourcing, budget and timeline management, technical oversight, quality review, and issue resolution.
• Drive innovation in spatial and digital pathology by evaluating and implementing emerging technologies such as multiplex imaging, RNAscope, CosMx, COMET, digital pathology, and image analysis to answer key translational and mechanistic questions.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree 7+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Or Master’s Degree 5+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Or Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences 2+ of academic and / or industry experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pathology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or related field with 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong expertise in IHC, ISH, multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), image analysis, spatial biology, and digital pathology assay development.
• Experience developing, optimizing, qualifying, validating, and implementing tissue-based biomarker assays for translational and clinical studies.
• Knowledge of assay validation principles, including specificity, sensitivity, precision, robustness, controls, and quality systems.
• Laboratory experience with cell culture, control material generation, tissue processing, and orthogonal assay verification techniques such as flow cytometry, RNAscope etc.
• Familiarity with spatial biology and tissue imaging platforms such as CosMx, COMET, GeoMx, RNAscope, Akoya, 10xgenomics, or related technologies.
• Experience with digital pathology, image analysis, pathology scoring, and biomarker data interpretation.
• Experience managing CROs and external laboratory partnerships, including assay transfer, technical oversight, vendor management, and validation report review.
• Strong project management skills with experience managing timelines, budgets, and cross‑functional deliverables.
• Scientific curiosity, excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present scientific findings to multidisciplinary teams and governance committees.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced, matrixed research environment.
• Experience in oncology, immunology, autoimmune disease, cell therapy, gene therapy, or other advanced therapeutic areas preferred.

Compensation Overview

Seattle - WA: $136,030 - $164,841 The starting pay range(s) listed above is for full‑time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.

Benefits

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability). U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year. Non-exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays. Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time-off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs. Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings at https://careers.bms.com/benefits

How We Work

Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area. For roles based in Los Angeles County only: If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/. For roles based in Washington State only: If you live in or expect to work from Washington State if hired for this position, please visit this page for important information about the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection. Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations. If this posting is missing required information required by local law or incorrect, contact BMS at [e-mail] the Job Title and Requisition number. Do not send application-related inquiries to this email. To check your application status, please login to your Candidate Home Account.

We’re creating innovative medicines for patients fighting serious diseases. We’re also nurturing our own diverse team with inspiring work and challenging career options. No matter the role, each one of us makes a contribution. And that makes all the difference.