Senior Associate Scientist, Viral Vaccines

Why Patients Need You

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best in class medicines to patients around the world.

What You Will Achieve

As a Senior Associate Scientist, you will be at the center of our operations and you’ll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. You will be responsible for supporting the preclinical evaluation and early clinical development of candidate viral vaccines. . The primary purpose of this job role is to function as a member of Viral Vaccines within Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development (VRD). You will support the preclinical evaluation and early clinical development of mRNA and protein based viral vaccines.  In this role, you will perform various assays to monitor the immune responses elicited by vaccine candidates. This position will also be responsible for maintaining cell lines and preparing samples for testing. As this role is part of a dynamic team, you should possess a strong work ethic and collaborative spirit.

Your significant experience of applying knowledge of principles, concepts, and practices of the discipline will make you a critical member of the team. You are proactive in contributing to all team discussions and creating an environment of collaboration.

It is your hard work and focus that will help in making Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

How You Will Achieve It

• Contribute to achievement of immediate work group goals and collaborate with other team members.

• Analyze immune responses to vaccine candidates using techniques that include (but are not limited to) cell culture, neutralization assays, HAI, Luminex, and ELISAs in BSL-2 and BSL-3 environment. 

• Support cell-based immunoassay, ELISA, and Bioplex/Luminex assay development.

• Perform data analysis, interpret and summarize experimental data.  Present experimental results at group meetings. 

• Read scientific and technical literature to stay current in the field and to bring new and improved technologies to the laboratory.

• Assist in updating and writing documents associated with bio-functional assays, including information/data archiving, Standard Operating Procedure and study reports.

• Maintain a detailed inventory of freezer reagents such as controls, proficiency panels, toxins, reference standards etc.

• Present progress on assay development and sample analysis to colleagues and senior management.

• Provide critical data review of non-clinical data.

• Execute qualifications/validations of new instruments, reagents, and methods.

• Organize assigned work according to established departmental priorities.

• Collaborate with statisticians for preclinical study data analysis, assay technology selection, assay quality criteria and qualification requirements.

• Identify and report any experimental problems, proactively troubleshoot causative factors, and implement necessary corrections following discussion with supervisor.

• Manage manual and robotic sample preparation, use and maintenance of appropriate equipment, and preparation of relevant reagents.

• Generate and characterize reagents used to perform necessary assays and support maintenance of laboratory supplies.

• Provide daily laboratory operations support. Assist in ordering supplies from internal inventory and prepare reagents/supplies necessary for bio-functional assay work.

• Interact with external vendors to obtain quotes, and purchase reagents for clinical testing where applicable.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Maintain laboratory notebooks in compliance with the Pfizer Laboratory Notebook Policy. 

• Train other analysts on established technologies.

• Stay current on all departmental and corporate training.

• Perform job responsibilities in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices/ Good Laboratory Practice (cGMP/GLP) and all other regulatory agency requirements, if needed.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Bachelor's Degree with 3+ years or Master's with any years of experience in cell culture and cell based assays.

• Ability to use appropriate software to perform analysis of data

• Basic laboratory skills in the area of virology and immunoassays.

• Experience with experimental design and the interpretation of results

• Effective verbal and written communication skills

• Proficiency with personal computers, including word processing, Excel, PowerPoint and relevant scientific software

Nice-to-Have

• Pharmaceutical and biotech drug discovery experience

• Knowledge of immunoassay principles, mammalian cells and aseptic techniques

• Experience in developing and troubleshooting bioassays designed to assess antibody functionality

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Basic laboratory training in aseptic technique is essential.  Ability to work with infectious agents safely. Ability to perform mathematical calculations and ability to perform complex data analysis. The capacity to work effectively in a highly visible research program with time-constrained milestones. This is a lab-based position.

Other Job Details:

• Last Date to Apply: January 08, 2025

• Eligible for Relocation Package - NO

• Work Location Assignment: On Premise

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $64,600.00 to $107,600.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 7.5% of the base salary. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Research and Development

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