Group Leader- Antibody Engineering-0900481

EMD Serono

Location: Rockland, Massachusetts 02370
Posted on: 11/9/2009 1:54:45 PM
Postion type: Full time
Job Code: 0900481
Required Education: Doctorate
Salary:

DESCRIPTION
EMD Serono, Inc. is a leader in US biotechnology, focusing on reproductive health, metabolic endocrinology, and neurology. More than 500 people work in the world-class facilities in Rockland, MA, and approximately 250 work in the field.

The Position:
EMD Serono is seeking to appoint a motivated and well qualified scientist for the Protein Engineering and Monoclonal Antibody Technologies (PEAT) group within New Biological Entities (NBE) Technologies. He/she will be responsible for the Monoclonal Antibody Engineering needs of the group and head up a laboratory staff of three with a potential to grow.

This individual will report to the Head of PEAT at their facility in suburban Boston and will be part of an energetic team in a key strategic area of the Discovery organization within EMD Serono. In this regard, he/she will play an important role in the overall responsibility of NBE Technologies for the discovery, optimization and progression of the Company's biotherapeutics discovery pipeline.

As Scientist - Antibody Engineering, the incumbent will have responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:

* Leading a group of scientist and technicians in the Monoclonal Antibody Engineering laboratory.
* Assuming responsibility for the humanization and optimization of antibody candidates generated by hybridoma- or phage display-technology.
* Managing the group and taking responsibility for its projects by driving and coordinating his/her direct reports in achieving the specific objectives of the respective research projects.
* Advancing antibody technologies within his/her own group as well as influencing the strategies on current and future technologies.
* Representing the monoclonal antibody department in specific antibody project teams.
* Taking responsibility for defining requirements for research projects and identifying potential constraints and risks.
* Use of problem solving skills in evaluating issues, and monitoring and initiating corrective actions where necessary.
* Taking responsibility for proposing new projects or amendments to existing projects to the Head of PEAT in the US.

REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications:

The Ideal Candidate
* The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or biological sciences.
* This individual will be a highly motivated scientist with a proven track record in antibody engineering and must have several years of post-doctoral experience in an academic or industry setting.
* A strong background in molecular biology, with extensive experience in antibody engineering, antibody expression and purification, and biochemical and biophysical methods for the analysis of antibodies is required. An interest to work part-time at the laboratory bench is desirable.
* Familiarity with antibody phage display technology and affinity maturation, and interpretation of computational modeling of antibody-antigen interactions would be useful. Further, experience in preclinical development of therapeutic antibodies is desirable.
* It is desired that the candidate demonstrate an aptitude to interact constructively with others across multiple cultural backgrounds in a dynamic matrix structure. He/she must have the ability to collaborate with colleagues throughout the organization in research functions i.e., bio-informatics, protein and cell sciences and structural biology and in corporate functions i.e., business development, intellectual property.
* Further to this, the candidate will possess strong communication skills, both oral and written. He/she should be confident in presentation with parties both small and large.
* As leader of a group, the candidate must be committed to its members and foster a teamwork approach. This will partially be accomplished through the facilitation of a positive work environment. He/she should be skilled in motivating and coaching others as well as interacting well in a team.
* The candidate will be, above all, a proactive self-starter with a positive "can do" attitude. He/she will have demonstrated success in achieving goals, be strongly results oriented and have the ability to drive tasks through to completion.
* The incumbent will be required to focus on multiple issues at one time, and must have the ability to organise and direct diverse activities in a changing environment, often under time pressure.
* With a mature, self-confident and well-balanced personality, it is essential that the candidate also possess a high standard of ethical and intellectual integrity.
* Finally, the candidate must be strongly computer literate.

This position is open: For local candidates only

EOE. Label