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Scientific Leader, Biophysics

Employer
GSK
Location
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Oct 10, 2022

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GSK is seeking a highly motivated and creative biophysicist within Medicine Design at the GSK US R&D hub in Upper Providence, Pennsylvania. This aim of this role is to manage a group of experienced biophysical scientists while applying and evolving a suite of biophysical techniques in support of decisions throughout the small molecule drug discovery process.

Our department combines structural biology with biophysical data to understand and optimize interactions between drug targets and small molecule hits, leads, and candidates in support of drug discovery across all therapeutic areas under investigation at GSK. We interact broadly with project teams consisting of biologists, medicinal chemists, biochemists, and computational chemists to discover and optimize novel therapeutics. This position requires excellent communication, decision making, organizational, and people management skills. Interpersonal skills and the ability to influence multi-disciplinary drug discovery teams using robust science are critical to our success.

Working closely with structural biologists and protein expression/purification scientists, the biophysics group generates information-rich datasets to characterize biomolecular interactions providing discovery teams with detailed interaction analyses (ie. protein-compound, protein-antibody, and protein-nucleic acid). We routinely use surface plasmon resonance, microscale thermophoresis, hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, NMR, and thermal shift methods. The biophysics group additionally provides mechanistic deconvolution of active compounds and antibodies to help predict efficacy and pharmacology, understand residence time, and select the best molecule for progression towards the clinic. To complement high resolution structural data generated within the department, we apply structural mass spectrometry to characterize target protein structure & dynamics and elucidate small molecule and antibody binding sites.

Role responsibilities:
  • Manage and support a team of experienced biophysicists to optimize the impact of the team's deliverables on the GSK's drug discovery portfolio.
  • Design, test, and appropriately scale biophysical experiments in support of large interdisciplinary and translational project teams.
  • Develop and deploy protein interaction experiments using a subset of available biophysical methods (surface plasmon resonance, microscale thermophoresis, differential scanning fluorimetry, hydrogen deuterium exchange MS, and/or NMR) to characterize and measure binding of small molecule hits and leads to purified drug targets.
  • Carefully design and carry out experiments to deconvolute biophysical mechanisms. Compare findings across biophysical and structural datasets to generate actionable information for the advancement of drug discovery campaigns.
  • Propose, plan and execute laboratory experiments and advanced data analysis in alignment with the goals of interdisciplinary project and technology teams.


  • Evaluate, implement, and embed cutting-edge biophysical or structural technologies that provide novel information content or advanced capabilities to positively impact project success-rates or timelines.
  • Characterize purified protein drug targets using methods such as hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, SEC-MALS, mass-photometry, UV absorbance, fluorimetry, circular dichroism, and NMR.
  • Interact with business partners including therapeutic-area focused research units, structural biologists, medicinal chemists, and counterpart technology groups. Liaise and consult as a biophysics representative to program teams.


Why You?

Basic Qualifications:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:
  • A Ph.D. in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology or related field, plus 5+ years of industry experience or a MS with 8+ years relevant industry experience in a related discipline
  • Demonstrated laboratory experience in quantitative biophysical techniques, and knowledge of structural biology, biochemistry, and protein characterization.
  • Leadership experience either through direct reports or matrix project leadership.


Preferred Qualifications:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:
  • Strong, independent research background in quantitative protein biophysics: ie. experience measuring binding affinity, kinetics, or thermodynamics of protein interactions, protein folding, or protein conformation changes. Modeling of biophysical mechanisms and data fitting.
  • Experience with SPR, MST, HDX-MS, NMR, structural mass spectrometry or cryo-EM.
  • Strong track record of publications in peer reviewed journals.
  • Demonstrated strengths in high performance behaviors, such as building relationships, flexible thinking, and enabling/driving change.


Why GSK?

Our values and expectationsare at the heart of everything we do and form an important part of our culture.

These include Patient focus, Transparency, Respect, Integrity along with Courage, Accountability, Development, and Teamwork. As GSK focuses on our values and expectations and a culture of innovation, performance, and trust, the successful candidate will demonstrate the following capabilities:

  • Agile and distributed decision-making - using evidence and applying judgement to balance pace, rigour and risk
  • Managing individual and team performance.
  • Committed to delivering high quality results, overcoming challenges, focusing on what matters, execution.
  • Implementing change initiatives and leading change.
  • Sustaining energy and well-being, building resilience in teams.
  • Continuously looking for opportunities to learn, build skills and share learning both internally and externally.
  • Developing people and building a talent pipeline.
  • Translating strategy into action - a compelling narrative, motivating others, setting objectives and delegation.
  • Building strong relationships and collaboration, managing trusted stakeholder relationships internally and externally.
  • Budgeting and forecasting, commercial and financial acumen.


*LI-GSK

If you require an accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at GSK, please contact the GSK Service Centre at 1-877-694-7547 (US Toll Free) or +1 801 567 5155 (outside US).

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, in the US, we adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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