Principal Research Scientist I, Lipid Nanoparticle Formulation and Drug Delivery

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. 

The Molecular Profiling and Drug Delivery (MPDD) function within the Small Molecule CMC organization is accountable for a broad range of deliverables across various stages of drug discovery and development. During lead optimization and through candidate selection, MPDD scientists utilize state of the art automation and computational tools supported by expertise in biopharmaceutics, drug delivery, and solid-state chemistry to collaboratively progress candidates with higher probability of success into development and advise clinical formulation strategy. From candidate selection through clinical proof of concept and product launch, MPDD scientists work in cross functional teams to identify the commercial solid form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and establish structure-property-performance correlations to help deliver robust commercial processes and align control strategies across drug substance and product. They also transition drug substance isolation processes and relevant physical characterization methods to commercial manufacturing sites and work within teams to ensure successful regulatory submissions.

Drug Delivery scientists within AbbVie's MPDD organization work collaboratively with other functions within Development Sciences and Discovery to conduct developability assessment to select formulations with higher probability of success for clinical development and eventual commercialization.  This includes profiling of physicochemical properties, development of preclinical formulations, identifying solutions to in vivo delivery challenges, and advancement of novel drug delivery strategies across multiple routes of administration that are aligned with program target product profiles and downstream partners.  In this role, you will work in cross-functional teams in matrixed environments and engage in multidisciplinary problem solving.

AbbVie's MPDD organization is seeking a highly motivated, talented, and creative scientist with expertise and some experience in pharmaceutical sciences and drug delivery for a Principal Research Scientist I position.  The primary role of this position is to serve as an MPDD project leader on discovery programs, leading CMC development of lipid nanoparticle formulations.  This role will also entail contributing towards developing our drug delivery capabilities with a focus on lipid nanoparticle manufacturing, analytical testing, characterization, and development.  This person will be working collaboratively with discovery and development partners across disciplines to improve delivery of this modality and advance formulations to clinical development with improved developability profiles.  The desired candidate will have a strong background and hand-on experience in the areas of physicochemical and/or biophysical properties and their impact on developability, preclinical and/or clinical formulation, lipid nanoparticle manufacturing and characterization techniques, as well as drug delivery concepts relevant to nanoparticle-based medicines.

Key Competencies

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher performance.
• Learns fast, grasps the "essence”, and can change course quickly where indicated.
• Connects ideas from disparate fields, integrates data and information quickly, and takes risks to achieve the highest performance.
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.

• Principal Research Scientist I typically requires Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. with 14+ (B.S.), 12+ (M.S.), and 6+ (Ph.D.) years of experience in pharmaceutical or related industry.  Preferred educational backgrounds include but are not restricted to Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Chemical/Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science.
• Fundamental understanding of analytical characterization techniques for lipid nanoparticle formulation development and testing.
• Extensive experience in physicochemical property assessment related to understanding developability profile and potential risk mitigation strategies.  Techniques of interest include, but are not limited to: chromatography, dynamic light scattering, SEM/TEM, x-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, microscopy, biophysical characterization techniques, etc.
• Experience developing and characterizing lipid nanoparticle drug delivery systems for systemic and targeted RNA delivery.
• Knowledge of preclinical and clinical formulation development principles relevant to lipid nanoparticle formulations.
• Excellent self-management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills and ability to clearly communicate theories and concepts, influence others without authority, and drive technical excellence.

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

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• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.​

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​

• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs​

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Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. ​

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AbbVie is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives, serving our community and embracing diversity and inclusion.  It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected group status.