Senior Research Associate I, Antibody Discovery & Engineering
Company Description
Zymeworks is a publicly listed (NASDAQ:ZYME) clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation, bispecific and multifunctional biotherapeutics, initially focused on the treatment of cancer. Zymeworks' suite of complementary therapeutic platforms and its fully-integrated drug development engine provide the flexibility and compatibility to precisely engineer and develop highly-differentiated product candidates.
Why Work With Us
Nothing is more critical to our success than the quality of our team. The work we do is meaningful and impactful - we care about each other as well as the patients we serve. We offer challenging career opportunities, competitive benefits and an environment that recognizes and rewards performance.
Zymeworks is proudly headquartered in our brand new, net-zero facility located in the vibrant Main St biotech hub of Vancouver, BC, with operations in Bellevue, WA, Dublin, Ireland, Singapore and the Bay Area.
Zymeworks is seeking a Senior Research Associate I (SRAI) to join the Antibody Discovery and Engineering group (ADE) within the ADC Therapeutic Development department. The ADE group is responsible for the discovery of therapeutic antibodies against tumor-associated antigens for the treatment of cancer, encompassing antibody generation, humanization, formatting, and functional characterization, on the path towards generating antibody drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting pipeline program advancement and contributing to core platform technologies. The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic and motivated team with an opportunity for growth and learning of various drug development stages.
Work Requirement
This role will be based out of our Vancouver office and is full time onsite.
Key Responsibilities
- Executes experiments as per project objectives, with an emphasis on antibody discovery and functional assessment.
- Carries out complex in vitro experiments using advanced techniques.
- Support mammalian tissue culture, maintaining suspension or adherent cell lines using sterile technique.
- Performs high throughput antibody characterization using flow cytometry (cell or bead based), ELISA, and cytotoxicity assays.
- Performs and optimizes high throughput assays using automation (liquid handlers).
- Performs various molecular biology techniques (PCR, cloning, plasmid preparation & purification etc.) to support antibody discovery platform.
- Performs FACS to interrogate immune repertoires.
- May contribute to generating engineered cell line models using mammalian gene expression lentiviral vectors and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies.
- Generates high quality, reproducible data to assist in the selection of lead therapeutic molecules and for elucidation/validation of targets for therapeutic development.
- Analyzes, interprets, and presents data.
- Staying up to date on state-of-the-art techniques in the field. May contribute to modification of protocols.
- Assists in maintaining a clean, organized, and operational lab.
- May assist in preparation of patent applications, research reports, and/or scientific papers.
- Conducts all activities in accordance with scientific standards, OH&S regulations, and established policies and practices.
- Adheres to standard procedures for generating, documenting, and archiving data. An accurate, up to date lab notebook or electronic notebook is mandatory.
- Fosters effective and collaborative working relationships with fellow employees and management.
Education and Experience
- Requires a MSc in a relevant scientific discipline with 3-5 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Demonstrated understanding of monoclonal antibody discovery workflows.
- Experience with high-throughput workflows is an asset.
Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize work, allocate resources, and deliver on deadlines.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Adhere to the highest degree of professional standards and strict confidentiality on matters that require discretion.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, work effectively in a fast paced, fast changing environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a cross-functional team; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Excellent communication skills, including scientific/technical writing and oral skills. Ability to present data effectively at large team meetings or interdepartmental meetings.
- Results oriented.
- Knowledge of antibody or antibody drug conjugate structure/function.
- Knowledge of GraphPad and FlowJo or similar software, is considered an asset.
- Advanced knowledge and proficiency in the following techniques:
- Flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting.
- Mammalian tissue culture.
- High-throughput screening using automated liquid handlers.
- Molecular biology techniques.
- NGS-based antibody sequence analysis.
Total Rewards
We offer a comprehensive total rewards package, which includes competitive salaries, generous benefits, an outstanding work environment, and excellent opportunities for professional growth. We regularly benchmark our compensation against leading biotechnology companies in our geographies.
The Canadian base salary range for this full time position is $73,000 - $104,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location.
The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all Canadian locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by a variety of factors and the salary offered may vary depending on the successful candidate's location and qualifications (including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, education, training, skills, and experience).
Please note that the compensation details listed in role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.
Our team enjoys:
- Industry leading vacation and paid time off
- Excellent health and wellness benefits
- Zymelife health and wellness benefits
- Paid time off to volunteer in your community
- Matching country specific pension savings program
- Employee Share Purchase Program
- Employee Equity Program
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or disability.
NOTE TO AGENCIES: Zymeworks values our relationships with our recruiting partners. We only accept resumes from those partners who have been contracted with us. Zymeworks is not responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited or are received without contract.