Senior Research Scientist

About this role

Sr. Research Scientist - Wilmington, DE ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

• Independently design and optimize recombinant protein constructs for expression and downstream applications.

• Perform transfection of plasmids into mammalian cells, cell line maintenance, generation of baculovirus, and protein expression in insect (Sf9) and mammalian systems.

• Express recombinant proteins using bacterial expression systems and optimize conditions to maximize yield, solubility, and quality.

• Develop, optimize, and execute protein purification workflows using chromatography techniques including affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC).

• Develop and execute purification strategies for  antibodies, antibody fragments, and antibody-containing complexes.

• Perform antibody purification and QC, including assessment of purity, aggregation, integrity, concentration, and overall sample quality using appropriate analytical methods.

• Characterize purified proteins and antibodies using a broad range of biochemical and biophysical techniques, including analytical SEC/HPLC, SDS-PAGE, intact-mass analysis where applicable, DSF/thermal shift assays, BLI, SPR, and other analytical assays.

• Establish and apply protein and antibody quality-control criteria to ensure samples are suitable for structural studies, binding assays, biochemical assays, immunization campaigns, and other downstream applications.

• Evaluate protein and antibody stability, homogeneity, aggregation state, concentration, and batch-to-batch consistency; identify potential quality issues and implement appropriate corrective strategies.

• Troubleshoot recombinant protein and antibody expression, purification, and stability challenges to improve yield, purity, monodispersity, and functional quality.

• Generate high-quality protein samples and protein complexes for X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, biophysical studies, biochemical assays, and other structural biology applications.

• Support antibody discovery programs by providing purified and well-characterized antibody molecules and complexes for downstream functional and structural characterization.

• Independently plan and execute small- and large-scale expression, purification, and characterization experiments while effectively managing multiple projects and priorities.

• Contribute to the daily operations of a highly productive protein production laboratory, including maintaining equipment, improving workflows, and supporting laboratory development and technology implementation.

• Analyze and interpret experimental data, communicate results clearly, and make data-driven recommendations that can influence program strategy and decision-making.

• Collaborate effectively with protein engineers, structural biologists, assay scientists, computational scientists, and project teams in a highly matrixed environment.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of AI-enabled and technology-driven approaches to accelerate protein production, characterization, structural biology, and drug discovery workflows.

• Maintain accurate experimental records and communicate results through presentations, written reports, and cross-functional project meetings.

• Work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining high scientific and operational standards.

Requirements • PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Protein Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, or a related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience in drug discovery, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, or an academic laboratory.

• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in protein chemistry, recombinant protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization.

• Experience with purification and characterization of antibodies and/or antibody fragments, including development and optimization of purification workflows and analytical QC.

• Demonstrated experience evaluating protein and antibody purity, homogeneity, aggregation, stability, integrity, and suitability for downstream applications.

• Proficiency with chromatography-based purification techniques, including affinity, ion exchange, and SEC.

• Experience with analytical and biophysical techniques such as SEC-HPLC, DSF/thermal stability assays, BLI, SPR.

• Proven ability to troubleshoot challenging protein expression and purification problems and independently develop effective solutions.

• Proven experience supporting drug discovery programs through protein chemistry.

• Ability to independently manage multiple projects, prioritize competing demands, and deliver high-quality results on established timelines.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional and matrixed teams.

• Self-driven, creative, scientifically curious, and entrepreneurial, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving research environment.

Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.

Rewards & Benefits ICON offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and career development.

Benefits may include: • Competitive base salary and performance related incentives • Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable • Retirement and pension plans • Life assurance and disability coverage • Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources • Learning and development opportunities through s

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