Protein Sciences Principal Research Scientist

Job Description

General Summary:

The position requires deep expertise in protein engineering and vast experience in the discovery and development of protein therapeutics, both in silico and wet lab. The Protein Sciences Principal Research Scientist is self-reliant with a deep record of accomplishments, independently identifying and solving tough problems across a number of critical and diverse projects. The successful candidate will be involved in the design, and generation of proteins to enable the study of structure-function relationships for disease-relevant targets. The Principal Research Scientist innovates proficiently and generates insights that influence research strategies. This is primarily an individual contributor role. The role provides reliable, valuable advice to other research Project Teams on a regular basis. Exhibits an ability to make significant conceptual contributions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Apply advanced protein engineering and directed evolution methods to drive the invention of novel biologic therapeutics
• Designs and performs sophisticated, technically challenging experiments, efficiently and independently
• Generates effective hypotheses to pursue Project goals and set new experimental directions
• Identifies broad implications to findings, which transcend the immediate experiment
• Develops novel and creative solutions to overcome Project goal obstacles
• Performs advanced, complex experimental troubleshooting and methods development, and is routinely called upon to use this prowess to assist others outside of own Projects
• Makes substantive conceptual contributions to Project activities and scientific strategies
• “Imports” new principles/concepts from other fields to establish new progress in Projects
• Coordinates publication and/or patenting of findings, or is a major contributor to these processes
• Provides authoritative technical recommendations broadly within the company regarding own field/discipline, and often occupies a key or pivotal formal or informal Project role

Knowledge and Skills:

• Deep experience in protein therapeutics beyond mAbs, such as Fc engineering, multispecifics, fusion proteins, ADC's and TCE's
• Demonstrates advanced judgment balancing technical feasibility and scientific opportunity/impact in the design, generation, and testing of proteins to enable the study of structure-function relationships for disease-relevant targets.
• Regularly executes technically challenging, complex experiments successfully within project expectations
• Discerns new, productive paths in experiments with greater regularity
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to capitalize on scientific creativity and insights
• Assigned to the more challenging or higher-value Project tasks/problems
• Often will have demonstrated outstanding determination and/or persistence in supporting Project(s)
• A superior communicator, demonstrating the ability to write advanced technical documents and demonstrating confidence and versatility in presenting verbally to diverse audiences

Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines and 4-7 years of relevant post-doctoral employment experience, or
• Masters Degree (or equivalent degree) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines and 7+ years of relevant employment experience, or
• Bachelors Degree (or equivalent degree) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines and 10+ years of relevant employment experience

Pay Range:

$136,000 - $204,000

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

On-Site Designated

Flex Eligibility Status:

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com