Scientist - Immuno-oncology and Antibody Discovery

Scientist - Immuno-oncology and Antibody Discovery

South San Francisco, California

Apeximmune is a pre-clinical-stage biotechnology start-up where we believe in harnessing the power of the immune system to treat and cure cancer. Based in South San Francisco, Apeximmune discovers and pioneers novel therapeutic antibodies that modulate immune cell activity to elicit durable, lasting efficacy in cancer and autoimmune disease. Our team integrates expertise in immunology, tumor cell biology, and protein biochemistry and engineering to provide therapies that can transform patients’ lives.

Apeximmune is seeking a talented scientist with a strong background in cellular and molecular immunology and cancer biology to join our therapeutic antibody discovery team. This position will lead an immuno-oncology target discovery project towards clinical candidate nomination. You will be responsible for all aspects of the project from high-level design to assay development and optimization, hybridoma screening and characterization, lead candidate identification, and pre-clinical animal efficacy studies. In addition, you will utilize your knowledge and experience to make contributions to other ongoing projects. Your work will be a key component of Apeximmune’s strategic goals.

Key responsibilities include:

• Independently leading an antibody discovery project including strategic planning, development of binding and cell-based functional assays for hybridoma screening, running experiments and analyzing results, identifying lead candidates, and ultimately defining the path towards a go/no-go decision
• Executing on and managing contract research organization-run hybridoma generation campaigns and in vivo preclinical studies to ensure successful joint efforts
• Actively collaborating within our team, including contributions to other projects, participation and presenting in internal meetings, and sharing your areas of expertise so that others can learn from your knowledge and experience
• Keeping up-to-date with current scientific literature to help identify new targets or new strategies for existing targets

Requirements:

Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, oncology, or a related scientific field with 2+ years of postdoctoral or equivalent industry experience

Extensive experience with basic tissue culture of mammalian cell lines and primary cells

Experience in the development of cell-based functional in vitro immunoassays

Proficiency in the isolation and characterization of human and mouse primary immune cells

Expertise in multi-color flow cytometry is a must, alongside a deep knowledge of FACS-based phenotypic and functional characterization of immune cell populations

Experience in syngeneic and/or transgenic mouse tumor models is a plus

Proficiency with basic data analysis software (GraphPad Prism, Excel, etc.)

Excellent written and oral communication, organization, and presentation skills.

If you like the idea of creating new therapies that have a major impact on patients’ lives, of helping a new company rise off the ground, of being part of a collaborative and talented team where everyone’s voice is valued, and of finding a place to learn and professionally grow, then this is the role for you.