Scientist, Rare Disease Biology
Amgen
Summary
In this vital role you will contribute to the discovery and advancement of innovative therapies for rare diseases by serving as a core member of multidisciplinary disease-focused research team. You will apply data-driven approaches to investigate disease mechanisms, evaluate novel therapeutic targets, and generate insights that inform portfolio decisions.
Job description
Key responsibilities
- Independently plan, design, execute, analyze, and interpret in vitro and ex vivo studies to elucidate disease mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic hypotheses.
- Generate reproducible, high-quality experimental data to support target identification, validation, and progression of rare disease research programs.
- Integrate experimental findings with published literature, human genetics, clinical observations, and other data sources to develop mechanistic insights and inform scientific decision-making.
- Apply computational and data analysis tools to evaluate datasets, identify mechanistic relationships, and support target prioritization efforts.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of innovative experimental approaches that improve scientific rigor, efficiency, and translational relevance.
- Serve as an active member of disease-focused research teams, collaborating closely with disease biologists, computational scientists, translational researchers, and partner functions.
- Participate in scientific discussions, target reviews, and portfolio evaluations by contributing data-driven insights and recommendations.
- Support productive relationships with internal and external collaborators, including academic partners, foundations, and scientific experts when appropriate.
- Present scientific findings and recommendations to project teams, governance forums, and departmental meetings.
- Maintain accurate documentation and contribute to organizational knowledge-sharing efforts.
- Embrace and contribute to a culture of scientific curiosity, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
Basic Qualifications
- PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, or related discipline OR Master's degree and 2 years of scientific research experience OR Bachelor's degree and 4 years of scientific research experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in gout or related therapeutic areas.
- Experience in enzyme biology or the discovery and development of enzyme-based therapeutics, including enzyme replacement therapies.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot cell-based, molecular, and biochemical experiments.
- Experience developing or applying disease-relevant cellular systems, including primary cells, patient-derived samples, or advanced in vitro and ex vivo models.
- Strong quantitative and data-interpretation skills, including the ability to integrate experimental results with genetics, omics, clinical data, or published evidence.
- Experience working with computational or bioinformatics partners to generate and test biological hypotheses.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted tools for scientific analysis, literature synthesis, or hypothesis generation.
- Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, translational research, or multidisciplinary drug-discovery teams.
- Ability to balance scientific rigor with urgency and adaptability in a dynamic research environment including openness to changing evidence.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in matrixed teams embracing teamwork, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
- Strong scientific communication skills with the ability to explain complex findings and their implications to diverse audiences.
Requirements
- PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, or related discipline OR Master's degree and 2 years of scientific research experience OR Bachelor's degree and 4 years of scientific research experience
- Experience in gout or related therapeutic areas
- Experience in enzyme biology or the discovery and development of enzyme-based therapeutics, including enzyme replacement therapies
- Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot cell-based, molecular, and biochemical experiments
- Experience developing or applying disease-relevant cellular systems, including primary cells, patient-derived samples, or advanced in vitro and ex vivo models
- Strong quantitative and data-interpretation skills, including the ability to integrate experimental results with genetics, omics, clinical data, or published evidence
- Experience working with computational or bioinformatics partners to generate and test biological hypotheses
- Familiarity with AI-assisted tools for scientific analysis, literature synthesis, or hypothesis generation
- Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, translational research, or multidisciplinary drug-discovery teams
- Ability to balance scientific rigor with urgency and adaptability in a dynamic research environment including openness to changing evidence
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in matrixed teams embracing teamwork, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement
- Strong scientific communication skills with the ability to explain complex findings and their implications to diverse audiences
Benefits
- Retirement & Savings Plan
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Life & Disability Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Annual Bonus Program
- Stock-Based Long-Term Incentives
- Paid Time Off
- Flexible Work Models
Company overview
Amgen Inc. is a leading American multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, founded in 1980. As one of the world's largest independent biotechnology companies, Amgen specializes in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering innovative human therapeutics. The company focuses on six key therapeutic areas: inflammation, oncology/hematology, bone health, cardiovascular disease, nephrology, and neuroscience. Amgen's portfolio includes blockbuster drugs such as Enbrel for autoimmune diseases, Prolia and XGEVA for osteoporosis, Repatha for cholesterol management, Otezla for psoriasis, and Neulasta for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. With approximately 28,000 employees worldwide, Amgen operates as a component of both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq-100 indices. The company maintains a robust research and development pipeline with numerous clinical programs across various stages, leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology and human genetic data to address some of the world's most challenging diseases. Amgen's manufacturing capabilities span multiple global locations, and it distributes products through pharmaceutical wholesale distributors and direct-to-consumer channels.