Position Description

Job Title: Senior Scientist I, HIV Antibody Discovery and Development
Location: Neutralizing Antibody Center (NAC), San Diego, CA
Reports to: Principal Scientist, Antibody and Vaccine R&D

Position Summary: 

Are you an experienced Sr Scientist who is eager to help translate science into global health solutions?

IAVI is seeking a Senior Scientist to lead efforts in HIV and EID vaccine design and antibody therapeutics. The Sr. Scientist leads a sub-team focused on preclinical assessment of vaccine candidates, broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody discovery from human donors, and enhancing antibody delivery strategies. Depending on need, Sr. Scientists will work with a multidisciplinary team comprised of local and external academic collaborators as well as researchers at other IAVI office locations. As a team lead, the Sr. Scientist is responsible for designing, overseeing, and coordinating study designs which includes immunization strategies, antibody isolation, and functional characterization, FACS-based immunological analysis, antibody passive transfer and challenge studies in relevant animal models, and viral sequencing. The candidate also serves as a scientific liaison between IAVI and relevant partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement the overall scientific direction and rationale for IAVI’s development of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies and humoral immune response evaluation.
• Independently oversee and lead hypothesis driven research with input from senior team members.
• Oversee production and purification of relevant antigens/baits required for cell sorting.
• Apply innovative antibody discovery techniques to isolate and characterize novel bnAbs from human donor samples.
• Perform and analyze viral sequencing data utilizing methods such as SGA and PacBio HiFi sequencing.
• Manage and train a small team of laboratory personnel to achieve scientific objectives.
• Oversee drafting and submission of manuscripts to report on scientific findings.
• Prepare and present research updates for internal meetings, external partnership meetings, and international conferences.
• Support in drafting of grants and grant update reports.

Education and work experience:

• PhD in biology with a focus in virology or immunology is required, preferably with a strong background in bioinformatics.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant post-PhD experience is required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience in high throughput antibody functional screening assays, including neutralization assays and various binding assays is required.
• Experience with bacterial and mammalian cell culture is required.
• A strong publication record, such as published papers with lead authorship in international peer reviewed journals is required.
• Experience with immunoglobulin and viral sequencing and the analysis of NGS data is highly preferred.
• Experience in recombinant protein expression and purification is preferred.
• Previous experience in managing direct reports is highly preferred.
• Strong background in high-parameter flow cytometry is highly preferred.
• In depth understanding of technical and logistical challenges of developing HIV vaccines is preferred but not required.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced quickly changing environment.
• Effective teamwork skills, collaborating with both local colleagues and external partners.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse colleagues.
• Professional level verbal and written communication skills.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.

About the NAC:

IAVI’s Neutralizing Antibody Center (NAC) was established in 2002 at Scripps Research in La Jolla, CA, and today, is a leading source of innovation in the study of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and the design of immunogens to elicit these antibodies through vaccination. The NAC brings together leading investigators — including structural and computational biologists, immunologists, protein chemists, and glycobiologists — from institutions worldwide.

IAVI CORE VALUES:

• Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. 
• Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up 
• Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect 
• Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. 

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee. 

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.

Compensation and Benefits Information for US-Based Candidates: 

Annual base salary for this position is: $95,000.00 - 125,000.00

Please note, there may be some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits such as annual bonus, generous retirement savings plan, three health insurance plans to choose from, and other benefits.