Principal Scientist -- BioMolecular Engineering

ROLE SUMMARY

The incumbent will lead programs that apply molecular biology and bioprocess engineering to develop and scale-up novel DNA template production system to support mRNA vaccine projects. The ability to apply diverse molecular biology, microbial fermentation, bioreaction kinetics and big data analytics techniques in optimization and scale-up of enzymatic reaction is crucial for this position. The incumbent will also lead efforts to develop production process for plasmids and recombinant enzymes that could be readily applied in a cGMP environment. Supervision of staff is also within the scope of this position.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead programs for novel DNA template production system development and scale-up to support mRNA vaccine projects.
  
• Design experiments to optimize cell-free DNA template production with enzymatic reactions.
  
• Explore new enzymes for DNA template production and purification.
  
• Scale-up cell-free DNA template production to meet commercial needs.
  
• Design of vectors and recombinant constructs for expression of recombinant proteins in microorganisms is within scope.
  
• Direct the efforts for protein engineering and strain engineering to produce more effective enzymes for cell-free enzymatic reaction process.
  
• Lead the efforts to optimize the plasmid production process via construct design, strain engineering and microbial fermentation.
  
• Supervise junior and senior scientists.
  
• Be capable of working on multiple projects at the same time.
  
• Investigate and evaluate new technologies for the group.
  
• Generate new concepts from reading the scientific literature.
  
• Organize, tabulate, and interpret data. Present data summaries within the group, project teams and at the department level.
  
• Fully document experiments in notebooks in a timely and compliant manner.
  
• Works irregular hours (weekends and outside of 9-5 format) as experiments warrant
  

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. degree in Biochemical Engineering. Molecular Biology or Biochemistry related discipline with minimum 5 years of related experience or a MS/BS degree with experience appropriate to the position.
  
• Demonstrate track record on bioprocess scale-up.
  
• Acts as subject matter expert on the application of molecular and microbial genetics to various industrial microorganisms for plasmid and recombinant protein production.
  
• Has a solid understanding of principles of enzyme reaction kinetics.
  
• Has a solid understanding of cGMP and regulatory requirements.
  
• Ability to design, organize and execute multiple complex experiments simultaneously and independently
  
• Ability to plan project workflows and organize workflow for junior colleagues
  
• Collaborate in a team environment and work across group and department boundaries to achieve project objectives
  
• Compile, organize and analyze large dataset and conceive of novel ideas from the data
  

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider's name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.

Other Details

Relocation support available

Work assignment is onsite

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Able to lift 50LBS.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

Works irregular hours (weekends and outside of 9-5 format) as experiments warrant

#LI-PFE

Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider's name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.

Research and Development