Advisor - Biochemist, Pandemic Preparedness

About This Role

This advisor role is for a molecular and cellular biologist to join a dedicated pandemic preparedness team within the Biotechnology Discovery Research organization. The core work involves designing and producing antigen constructs and structural reagents to enable AI-based and patient-derived antibody discovery workflows, providing foundational support for rapid outbreak response. The initial focus will be on the Ebola virus glycoprotein, with subsequent expansion to other high-consequence pathogens.

Responsibilities

• Design and produce recombinant viral antigen constructs, including modified forms such as prefusion-stabilized, multimeric fusions, and cellular receptor-based reagents optimized for antibody discovery screening and structural biology
• Build and maintain a "pathogen readiness package" for each prioritized high-consequence pathogen, including documented expression constructs, validated binding reagents, and characterized neutralizing epitopes, updated as new data emerges
• Enable and participate in the design, engineering, and characterization of multi-specific virus targeting antibodies
• Embrace and celebrate diversity by using a relevant and unique background and set of experiences to provide new ideas to deliver innovative solutions drugging novel targets

Requirements

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, structural biology, virology, or a related field plus a minimum of 2 years post-graduate experience (post-doctoral or industry) in a virology-related field such as antiviral discovery
• Strong core proficiency in all aspects of protein biochemistry, including expression and purification, biochemical and biophysical characterization, and their application to the production of conformationally relevant viral antigens

Nice to have:

• Working knowledge of filovirus biology, especially Ebola GP-mediated entry, enabling rapid contribution to the initial Ebola focus of the pandemic preparedness program
• Familiarity with relevant structural biology tools, including their application to antigen design for infectious agents
• Experience in the biochemical characterization of antibodies that target infectious agents, including a familiarity with epitope characterization and structural biology applications
• Experience collaborating with internal and external partners across geographies and disciplines
• Strong communication (oral and written), organizational, and leadership skills as evidenced by a robust publication record
• Prior experience in the discovery and characterization of antibodies, especially in the context of engineering multi-specific formats
• Experience in creating protein libraries for use in antibody escape mapping
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team environment, particularly with BioTDR’s broader antibody discovery scientists, and including prior experience in technology transfer to other partner organizations