Sr Scientist Protein Biomarker Identification and Assay Development

Description

Senior Scientist, Protein Biomarker Identification and Assay Development

Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., a member of Johnson and Johnson's Family of Companies, is recruiting for a Senior Scientist, Neuroscience Biomarker Research, located in La Jolla, California, USA.

You will join a team that is dedicated to addressing and solving the most meaningful unmet medical needs of our time. Motivated by our commitment to patients, we develop sustainable, integrated healthcare solutions together with our partners, based on partnerships of trust and transparency.

You will conduct biomarker research related to neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. You will work with the biomarker, discovery and experimental medicine teams and disease area leaders on identifying biomarker assay needs and implementing biomarker plans to support discovery, translation and clinical development. You will engage in the planning, execution, and interpretation of biomarker related efforts in clinical trials, such as assay implementation at CROs, data collection, data QC and supporting analysis activities. In this role, you will be a member of the Neuroscience Protein Biomarkers Group and report to the director of Protein Biomarkers.

You, the Senior Scientist will be responsible for the following functions:

• This position primarily includes laboratory work within Janssen Neuroscience Biomarkers which sometimes includes collaboration with commercial and academic laboratories.
• You will be responsible for identifying biomarkers relevant to the biology/pharmacology targeted by the clinical teams and the best fit for purpose assay technology.
• Your research will be focused on development of existing and new assays and assay strategies related to biomarker application and validation. This may include transfer of assays to commercial vendors. 
• Your role will include collaboration with Discovery, Translational Medicine and Clinical Research colleagues to implement biomarker measurements that will inform and improve decision-making for the Neuroscience drug portfolio.
• You will serve as an assay expert to Neuroscience Biomarkers disease area leaders and in support of clinical teams.
• As part of your assay development research, you will work with internal and external collaborators, partners, CROs, and Key Opinion Leaders.
• You will have responsibility for recommending sample volume, acquisition, and handling requirements to operations and clinical teams, and work with the operations team to maintain an up to date tracker of available biomarker samples.
• You will assist with data analysis and interpretation and, with Neuroscience Biomarker Leaders, communicate results to internal and external organizations.
• You will remain current on the evolving landscape of biomarker technologies and applications and relevant drug mechanisms of action.
• You will assist in collaborations with academic, industrial consortia, and commercial partners to optimize support of neuroscience biomarkers. 

Qualifications

• Ph.D. (Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Molecular/Cell Biology, Immunology, Biological Engineering or related field) with at least 5 years postdoctoral experience focused on biochemical studies of protein/peptide expression and related methodologies is required.
• Demonstrated ability for bringing robotic/automated solutions to assay development in research-oriented laboratories is strongly preferred.
• Experience in building new immunoassays using multiple assay platforms is strongly preferred.
• Project Management experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability for bringing robotic/automated solutions to assay development in research-oriented laboratories is strongly preferred.
• Experience collaborating in the deployment of new or specialized technology for novel assay development is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in characterizing proteins and immunoreagents using kinetic tools (e.g. Biacore, ultracentrifugation, IP-MS/MS, plate-based kinetic assays, etc.) is strongly preferred.
• Experience in sample preparation using CSF and blood (whole cell, whole blood, plasma/serum) and other biofluids is strongly preferred.
• Established scientific achievement as demonstrated by a robust publication record is required. 
• Excellent organizational skills to support preclinical and clinical study sample analysis is required. 
• Excellent communication, data analysis and interpretation skills are required.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment and to lead projects with minimal supervision is requried.
• The position is located in La Jolla, CA and may require up to 10% travel.

At Johnson & Johnson, we’re on a mission to change the trajectory of health for humanity. That starts by creating the world’s healthiest workforce. Through cutting-edge programs and policies, we empower the physical, mental, emotional, and financial health of our employees and the ones they love. As such, candidates offered employment must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or secure an approved accommodation prior to the commencement of employment to support the well-being of our employees, their families and the communities in which we live and work.

For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness, career and life journey, please visit www.careers.jnj.com.

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.