Senior Scientist, Monoclonal Antibody Discovery - Vaccines

Job Title: Senior Scientist, Monoclonal Antibody Discovery - Vaccines

Location: Waltham, MA

About the Job

Sanofi Vaccines is seeking a creative and highly motivated immunologist and/or virologist to join the vaccine research group in Waltham, MA. This position will be in the North American Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Team within the Global Antigen Design team. The primary objective for this position will be to lead monoclonal antibody discovery and characterization efforts to support the COVID vaccine portfolio.

The successful candidate will design, perform, and execute experiments related to antibody discovery and characterization, with expert level knowledge in human antibody discovery, cell sorting, flow cytometry, single cell workflows, and bioinformatics pipelines for antibody discovery. The ability to independently design and optimization protocols related to these assays is required. The successful candidate will also have extensive experience with variety of antibody characterization methods including ELISA, western blot, spectral flow cytometry, biolayer interferometry (Octet/Carterra LSA), neutralization assays, and surface plasmon resonance (Biacore). The successful candidate will have experience working with and managing CROs for both production of proteins as well as for outsourcing key projects.

A deep understanding of basic B cell immunology and single B cell bioinformatics (including germline usage, lineage assignments, IMGT, AIRR.tsv, etc) is required. Extensive experience in the space of COVID monoclonal antibody discovery and COVID vaccine development is a requirement. An understanding of basic virology and viral vaccinology, including interaction with host cellular receptors, viral entry mechanisms, and neutralization mechanisms is preferred. Experience working with and producing recombinant protein antigens is also a plus.

The successful candidate will be responsible for performing critical data analyses and for independently preparing and delivering impactful presentations to senior team members and to the global project team. They must also have excellent communication skills including oral and written presentations and be a strong team player. A successful candidate will also have experience working in a matrixed, agile, international environment, serving as a subject matter expert in the field of COVID vaccines and antibodies.

We are an innovative global healthcare company that helps the world stay ahead of infectious diseases by delivering more than 500 million vaccine doses a year. Across different countries, our talented teams are exploring new technologies to protect people and promote healthy communities. We chase the miracles of science every single day, pursuing progress to make a real impact on millions of patients around the world.

Main Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimize antibody discovery protocols, with a focus on human B cells and a mindset to utilize and implement novel technologies in this space

• Work with in-house resource or CROs, lead the experimental design, planning and execution of protein production and antibody discovery efforts

• Willingness to work in a BSL2+ environment (including animal samples and pathogens) and comply with all HSE guidance in this environment

• Maintain knowledge of, and complete production of, key reagents needed across the company, including utilizing Gene Data Biologics to map key reagents

• Serve as a laboratory lead to independently design and execute experiments with scientific staff that comply with study protocols and maintain scientific norms to appropriately achieve goals set forth in study plans.          

• Demonstrate technical proficiency with the ability to problem solve in a broad array of experimental protocols.

• Help to lead, monitor, and maintain facility related aspects of the lab and lab equipment as needed

Project Contribution

• Present concise scientific information in-line with project objectives

• Support and lead internal site-specific projects.

• Assist with and/or prepare publications, proposals, reports, patents, and grant applications as needed

• Critically evaluate relevant literature to provide experimental and strategic input to senior team members as needed.

• Actively take part in the training of more junior technical staff

GRP and HSE

• Comply with the company safety policies and HSE to minimize risk to self, others and the environment, consistent with HSE policies, community and industry standards

• Identify and help to improve best practices in HSE operations

• Ensure documentation of laboratory experiments are entered in Benchling and GDB in a timely manner: analyze and summarize experimental outcomes, record experimental procedures and raw and data

• Participate in generating/reviewing SOPs and other required documents as needed

About You

• Earned PhD in Immunology, Virology, or a related field with 1+ years experience post-PhD.

• Previous experience working in the pharmaceutical industry a plus, preferably in antibody discovery and/or vaccine development.

• Extensive hands-on experience in antibody discovery, particularly with human B cells, including experience with cell sorting, 10x genomics, and the subsequent analysis pipeline required

• Previous experience working in a BSL2+ environment as well as working with BSL2+ agents required

• Subject matter expert in COVID mAb discovery required; publication record in this space preferred

• Extensive experience utilizing bioinformatics tools for single cell antibody discovery including Immcantation, Cell Ranger VDJ, IMGT, Magellan, and LibraSeq

• Working knowledge with various assays for characterization of antibodies required (examples include ELISA, western blot, biolayer interferometry, SPR, neutralization assays, spectral flow cytometry) as well as the associated analysis software (SpectraMax, Octet analysis studio, FlowJo, SpectroFlo, GraphPad Prism, etc).

• Experience with semi-automation, including the Assist Plus, highly preferred

• Experience with documenting all data utilizing Benchling and Gene Data Biologics, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required

• Experience working in an agile, international, matrixed environment is helpful

• Leadership skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and experience managing scientists experimentation/workflow for a program is preferred

• Displays a high degree of integrity, decides and acts in the best interest of the Company

• Proficient interpersonal, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills

• Resourcefulness: ability to find tactical solutions to challenges

• Strongly results-oriented and data-driven, track record of delivery against challenging viral vaccine targets with aggressive timelines

Why Choose Us

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally inclusive and diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; natural or protective hairstyles; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.