Senior Scientist II, Rheumatology
AbbVie
Summary
Bring your scientific expertise to AbbVie and help drive the next wave of discovery in rheumatology. Join the Rheumatology team at the Cambridge Research Center as a Senior Scientist II within Discovery Immunology R&D. You will help shape preclinical drug discovery programs through target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, and translational research—connecting scientific insight with the development of potential new therapies.
Job description
Bring your expertise in immunology and inflammation biology, hands-on preclinical pharmacology experience, and in vivo model development skills to challenging questions in autoimmune disease. You will connect human disease biology with preclinical approaches and generate high-quality data packages that inform program decisions. Your scientific insight and experimental rigor will help advance differentiated therapeutic programs across the Immunology portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a team of scientists to generate high-quality data packages that support drug candidate advancement from lead optimization through IND filing.
- Drive in vitro and in vivo pharmacology for drug candidates, including establishing PK/PD relationships, developing and optimizing screening assays, designing and executing mechanism-of-action studies, and evaluating candidate efficacy.
- Develop acute and/or chronic murine models of inflammation relevant to rheumatological diseases, including RA, PsA, and SLE, to support preclinical candidate development.
- Apply immunological techniques such as flow cytometry, PCR/gene expression analysis, protein and cytokine quantification, histopathology, and other relevant functional readouts.
- Design experiments, analyze data, and present findings at AbbVie scientific forums and external conferences.
- Author and review technical reports, protocols, and other key scientific documents.
- Bring your pharmacology expertise to pipeline programs as a functional representative, contributing to target evaluation, mechanism-of-action (MoA) studies, and model development.
- Adhere to corporate standards related to code of conduct, documentation, safety, proper handling of materials, and humane treatment of laboratory animals.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, PhD and typically 4 years of experience.
- Experience managing research associates preferred.
- Proven expertise in in vitro and preclinical in vivo model systems, with hands-on experience in preclinical pharmacology and in vivo model development.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative environment, including cross-functional teams and colleagues across multiple locations to support team and company goals.
Key Leadership Competencies
- Build strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of the immediate team to enable higher performance.
- Learns fast, grasps the “essence” and can change course quickly as needed.
- Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experiments to drive science in the field of interest.
- Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, or PhD and typically 4 years of experience
- Proven expertise in in vitro and preclinical in vivo model systems
- Hands-on experience in preclinical pharmacology and in vivo model development
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills
- Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative environment, including cross-functional teams and colleagues across multiple locations
Benefits
- Paid time off
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k)
- Long-term incentive programs
Company overview
AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and markets advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Founded in 2013 as a spin-off from Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie has established itself as a leader in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, and virology. The company's flagship product, Humira (adalimumab), was one of the world's top-selling drugs for treating autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. AbbVie maintains a robust pipeline of innovative medicines and has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including Allergan in 2020. With research facilities across the United States and globally, AbbVie focuses on advancing science to improve patient outcomes while maintaining strong commercial operations worldwide. The company operates with a patient-centric approach and invests significantly in research and development to address unmet medical needs across multiple therapeutic areas.