Senior Scientist II

Pharmacyclics is committed to the development and commercialization of novel therapies intended to improve the quality and duration of life and to resolve serious unmet medical needs for cancer patients. Pharmacyclics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company. Oncology is a key therapeutic area for AbbVie, with a portfolio consisting of three marketed products and a pipeline containing multiple promising new molecules that are being studied in more than 200 clinical trials for over 20 different types of cancer.

More than 1,200 Pharmacyclics and AbbVie research scientists, clinicians, marketing, operations and corporate professionals work in the San Francisco Bay Area. They combine their expertise in immuno-oncology, stem cells, and cell-signaling with their knowledge of bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and covalent-inhibitor technologies to discover and develop novel cancer treatments. Together, we are striving to outsmart cancer.

General Position Summary/Purposes

Senior Scientist II in research biology with a strong expertise in blood cancers and hematopoiesis, and a proven track record of accomplishments in disease biology research. This position is responsible for providing strong scientific expertise to novel target discovery, small molecule drug discovery, and mechanism-of-action research in the field of hematological malignancies. This position will require benchwork responsibilities.

Key Accountabilities/Core Job Responsibilities:

• Propose and validate novel therapeutic targets by combining deep understanding of mechanistic biology in hematological malignancies with human genetics and pathology.
• Design and execute a series of in vitro or ex vivo experiments utilizing RNAi, CRISPR and small molecule tools to rapidly validate therapeutic hypotheses.
• Design and execute in vitro or ex vivo experiments to determine potency and selectivity of drug candidates using cell lines and primary human cell sources. Lead the development, optimization, and validation of new assays. Utilize technical expertise and available information to troubleshoot and resolve key project hurdles when encountered.
• Represent the department on a cross-functional teams (medicinal chemistry, DMPK, pharmacology, safety/toxicology etc.) and effectively collaborate to drive early projects and ensure execution of a robust screening funnel.
• Actively participate in internal and external scientific meetings by presenting and critically evaluating the science and contributing to projects.
• Prioritize tasks and contribute to a highly motivated and productive research department with a sense of urgency and desire to meet project timelines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master's Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, PhD and typically 4 years of experience.
• PhD and Postdoc in molecular/cell biology, cancer biology, developmental biology or related discipline with > 4 years industry experience in oncology drug discovery is heavily preferred.
• Significant research experience in leukemia/lymphoma, hematology and/or hematopoietic stem cell research is essential.
• Extensive experience and technical skills in standard cell and molecular biology and genetic manipulation techniques (lentiviral transduction, CRISPR, shRNA)
• Experience in small molecule drug discovery, from target discovery/validation to candidate nomination.
• Demonstrated record of creativity and scientific achievements with strong publication and/or patent record.
• Experience in communicating technical information to a broad scientific audience through presentations, and written reports is essential.
• Experience in successful collaborative teamwork in a matrix environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled