Senior Associate Scientist- Viral Vaccines & Immunology

Why Patients Need You
Pfizer's purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer's purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best in class medicines to patients around the world.
What You Will Achieve
As a Senior Associate Scientist, you will be at the center of our operations and you'll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. You will be responsible for supporting the preclinical evaluation and early clinical development of candidate viral vaccines. You will perform and assist with molecular and virology work to generate plasmid constructs for RNA and reverse genetic virus stocks plus optimizing RNA vaccines. In addition, you will maintain cell lines and propagate viruses for research studies. Your skills and expertise will ensure that all work is to be done in a compliant manner according to relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) guidelines and Good Lab Practices cGLP and/or (Current) Good Manufacturing Practices (part of GxP) cGMP guidelines.
Your significant experience of applying knowledge of principles, concepts, and practices of the discipline will make you a critical member of the team. You are proactive in contributing to all team discussions and creating an environment of collaboration.
It is your hard work and focus that will help in making Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.
How You Will Achieve It

• Independently design, clone, rescue and characterize (in vitro) novel viruses or viral vectors.
• Perform molecular biology techniques that include (but are not limited to) PCR, RT-PCR, cloning.
• Design primers and plasmids using molecular biology software like Geneious prime or other molecular cloning and sequence analysis software.
• Assist with viral analytics (plaque assay, TCID50, IFA), virus production and amplification. Assist with production and characterization of recombinant viruses.
• Plan and execute scientific research projects under minimal supervision.
• Collect, analyze, and present scientific data to the research teams, with proposed next steps.
• Independently interpret and summarize experimental data. Present experimental results at group meetings.
• Generate and characterize reagents used to perform necessary assays and support maintenance of laboratory supplies.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks in compliance with the Pfizer Laboratory Notebook Policy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Satisfactorily complete all safety training in conformance with Departmental requirements. Where applicable, performs job responsibilities in compliance with cGMP/GLP and all other regulatory agency requirements.
• Interact with external vendors to obtain quotes, and purchase reagents for clinical testing where applicable.
• Identify and report any experimental problems, proactively troubleshoot causative factors, and implement necessary corrections following discussion with supervisor.
• Manage manual and robotic sample preparation, use and maintenance of appropriate equipment, and preparation of relevant reagents.
• Stay current on all departmental and corporate training.

Qualifications
Must-Have

• Bachelor's Degree with 3 to 5 of years of experience in Molecular or Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Virology (or a comparable biological science) in an academic or pharmaceutical/biotech environment OR Master's degree with 0 to 4 years of experience
• Must be proficient in molecular cloning including primer design, construct design, PCR and sequencing analysis.
• Basic laboratory skills in the area of quantitative-PCR, molecular biology, western blotting, biochemical assays and tissue processing
• Experience with experimental design and the interpretation of results
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with personal computers, including word processing, Excel, PowerPoint and relevant scientific software

Nice-to-Have

• Experience in virology
• Proficient in molecular biology techniques including Cloning (Gibson, Golden Gate etc), construct design, Primer design, PCR and sequencing analysis.

Other Job Details

• Work Location Assignment: On Premise

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $64,600.00 to $110,900.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer's Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 7.5% of the base salary. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life's moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site - U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider's name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
Research and Development