Senior Scientist - Neuroimmunology

The Senior scientist in Respiratory, Immunology and Inflammation Research Unit (RIIRU) will support a drug discovery team in the design and execution of studies for the delivery of novel medicines to treat neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. This role will provide the opportunity to deploy your existing aseptic iPSC cell culture, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology skills and also learn translational cellular disease modeling, evaluate novel drug targets using gene editing and pharmacological tools, and support drug discovery programs.

The successful candidate will be inquisitive, eager to learn new methodologies and concepts, and enjoys doing laboratory experiments. This is a lab-based role with responsibilities to conduct in vitro and ex vivo studies in preclinical drug discovery projects using human primary cells as well as human iPSC-derived microglia, neurons, and astrocytes. The successful candidate will be science driven, and the one who leads from the lab, assumes personal accountability, and keen to learn through experience to advance in their career.

Key Accountabilities:

• Support to establish and validate in vitro and ex vivo cellular models recapitulating mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease using human iPSC-derived cells or human primary cells or in cell lines
• Perform experiments using in vitro cellular models to evaluate molecules and/or genetic modifiers (e.g., CRISPR, shRNA) to validate drug discovery targets and/or to support lead optimization projects
• Conduct experiments according to the guidance using in vitro techniques that may include immunoassays (ELISA, MSD), TaqMan, Flow Cytometry, Spectral Flow Cytometry, live cell imaging with the Incucyte platform, among others
• Responsible for quality of study execution, data analysis, result interpretation and reporting.
• Clearly document study details, results and conclusions in lab notebooks, and communicate in internal meetings.
• Work collaboratively in matrix team
• Commit to continuous improvement by reading and applying the latest scientific literature, methodologies and technologies.
• Comply with all standards and practices of data integrity, ethics, and safety.
• Model GSK's values of patient-focus, respect, transparency, and integrity

Why You?

Basic Qualifications:

• Master of Science degree (Neuroscience, Biology, Biotechnology, Physiology) with 5+ years or fresh Ph.D. with relevant research experience in Alzheimer's Disease
• Basic cell and molecular biology technical capabilities including prior experience establishing/utilizing in vitro iPSC derived cell culture and modeling cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease in the dish for 2+ years.
• Experience in primary and immortalized cell culture
• Experience with using relevant instrumentation (e.g., biosafety cabinets, incubators, Flow Cytometry, Incucyte, ELISA, MSD, Western blot etc.) for 2+ years
• Work experience in neurobiology and/or neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease).
• Experience in establishing and follow standard protocols in the lab
• Experience with design, conduct, analyze and report experimental studies in a scientifically robust and rigorous way
• 2+ years of experience in writing electronic laboratory notebooks, and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with the following:

• Culturing iPS cells including differentiation into neurons, microglia, and astrocytes
• Basic biochemical techniques
• Developing cell-based assays
• ene editing and in vitro pharmacology studies.

About RIIRU: The Respiratory, Immunology and Inflammation Research Unit (RIIRU) was formed to identify and advance novel molecular targets with genetic associations to disease based on the foundational observation that targets with human genetic evidence supporting their causal role in the intended indication improves clinical success by two-fold. The biology unit within RIIRU (aka RIIBU) works across multiple therapy areas including neurodegenerative, immune, and metabolic disease. Neurodegenerative disease portfolio includes projects in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. The remit of RIIRU is to identify novel targets based on human genetics, develop assets for clinical studies, and perform up to Phase 2 studies in clinic. This goal is enabled through strategic external (23andMe, UK Biobank, FinnGen, Laboratory of Genomic Research, Public-Private Consortia like Accelerated Medicines Partnership, GSK-Oxford University joint Institute for Molecular and Computational Medicine, Biotech partnerships - Alector, Vesalius, Muna Therapeutics) and GSK-internal partnerships (Research Technologies).

Why GSK?

Our values and expectations are 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:

• Operating at pace and agile decision-making - using evidence and applying judgement to balance pace, rigor and risk.
• Committed to delivering high quality results, overcoming challenges, focusing on what matters, execution.
• Continuously looking for opportunities to learn, build skills and share learning.
• Sustaining energy and well-being.
• Building strong relationships and collaboration, honest and open conversations.
• Budgeting and cost-consciousness.

Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose - to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together - so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns - as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it's also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves - feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

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