Principal Scientist, Biotherapeutics Purification

Working together toward limitless possibilities.

We are differentiated in the composition of our team, which includes individuals from all areas—science, technology, and business—who share a pioneering mindset, and are passionate about finding better ways to create medicines for patients.

We seek diverse perspectives because we believe that engaging in candid, productive conflict around ideas is how we will push the boundaries of the possible.

Somerville, MA (50%) and Andover, MA (50%)

About Generate:Biomedicines

Generate:Biomedicines is a new kind of therapeutics company – existing at the intersection of machine learning, biological engineering, and medicine – pioneering Generative Biology to create breakthrough medicines where novel therapeutics are computationally generated, instead of being discovered. The Company has built a machine learning-powered biomedicines platform with the potential to generate new drugs across a wide range of biologic modalities. This platform represents a potentially fundamental shift in what is possible in the field of biotherapeutic development.

We pursue this audacious vision because we believe in the unique and revolutionary power of generative biology to radically transform the lives of billions, with an outsized opportunity for patients in need. We are seeking collaborative, relentless problem solvers that share our passion for impact to join us

Generate:Biomedicines was founded in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering and has received nearly $700 million in funding, providing the resources to rapidly scale the organization. The Company has offices in Somerville and Andover, Massachusetts with over 300 employees.

The Role:

Generate:Biomedicines is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and innovative Senior Scientist II of Biotherapeutics Purification to help manage production and characterization of lead drug candidates across our therapeutic pipeline. They will manage and mentor a team of purification scientists across 2 sites (Somerville and Andover, MA) that is responsible for performing protein purification and characterization at various scales across a range of different protein modalities stemming from upstream transient, bacterial and stable cell systems. A variety of capture, polishing and analytics will be used to deliver high quality protein for a variety of uses.

Understanding the importance of how to develop production workflows and appropriate QC for in-vivo grade products is essential to the role as downstream uses include immunogenicity assays, in-vivo PK, efficacy and toxicology studies. Manufacturability risk assessment is essential to the selection process of lead molecules and is a critical part of the role. The successful candidate will help bridge the transfer of lead molecules from R&D to our internal Tech Ops team for pre-clinical manufacturability.

They will guide the development of innovative experiments and technologies by providing direction to the lab or project team to execute complex experiments based on expertise and understanding of program direction and goals; contributing to the development and application of complex and emerging experimental methods to projects or programs within area of expertise; and developing and executing pioneering experiments and approaches to progress programs.

In addition to the core production responsibilities, the ideal candidate will drive scientific strategy within the company by contributing to the development and refinement of program and team goals and executing awareness of emerging trends and scientific advancements; monitoring team members' scientific understanding and identifying opportunities for professional growth; providing regular input on budget considerations for programs and projects; using project and program timelines to develop achievable team goals; and proactively identifying challenges or issues, developing solutions, and providing recommendations for resolution with the lab or project. Fluid cross functional communication is critical to program success as our production team feeds into several downstream groups to help evaluate lead assets.

Here's how you will contribute:

• Guides rigorous data analysis, interpretation, and communication by monitoring and conducting complex data analysis and interpretation and ensuring high quality and reliability of data across multiple experimental data sets and projects.
• Interpret complex data and provide guidance on troubleshooting challenging issues with the experiment; and lead the implementation of new digital tools or strategies.
• Build, coach, and mentor a team of high-performing scientists by identifying and recommending new approaches and improvements that can be incorporated into development plans.
• Lead and facilitate discussions with cross-functional teams on own lab or project team's work to drive success of multiple projects.
• Guide multi-step protein purifications of various protein modalities leveraging different affinity tags, secondary chromatography and polishing steps on AKTA systems.
• Assess protein quality metrics for all proteins produced within team.
• Explore, assess, and bring in-house state of the art technologies to enhance and continuously improve efficiencies across internal platforms.
• Manage all protein purification activities in group being accountable for planning, prioritization, and on-time delivery of generated protein variants.
• Efficiently accomplish project goals on time and budget, tracking capacity constraints and resource use within team.
• Collaborate and coordinate with upstream DNA and protein expression teams.
• Encourage and help coordinate cross-training of sub-disciplines when appropriate.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in recombinant protein production to different cross-functional teams.
• Detailed documentation of experiments and data on our internal LIMS systems, electronic notebook and presentations to project teams.
• Drive discussions with downstream stable CHO production groups for manufacturability.
• Program leadership in the form of departmental representation.
• The role includes leading a purification team across the Somerville and Andover sites, so frequent travel between locations is required.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• Minimum of 6+ years/PhD or 12+ years/MSc in a biotech/pharma industry setting.
• Experience with standard chromatography methods in the Biotherapeutic Discovery and Development setting (Protein A, IEX, HIC, mixed mode, SEC).
• Knowledge of how to implement QC requirements with a variety of downstream in-vitro and in-vivo uses.
• Track record of using an array of analytical techniques to drive preparative workflows and define final product quality.
• 3+ years of people management experience leading a team.
• Excellent communication, attention to detail, documentation and technical writing skills.
• Align with manufacturability from a purification perspective (e.g. resins, wash steps, flow through/weak partitioning, formulating).
• Represent the production team and department in program meetings with a high level of collaboration and respect.

Generate:Biomedicines is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

COVID Safety:

Generate:Biomedicines enforces a mandatory vaccination policy for COVID-19. All employees must be fully vaccinated and have received a booster. The purpose of this policy is to safeguard the health of our employees, their families, and the community at large from infectious disease that may be reduced by vaccinations. The Company will make exceptions to this policy if required by applicable law and will consider requests for an exemption from this policy due to a medical reason, or because of a sincerely held religious belief, or any other exemptions that may be recognized by applicable law.