The Project
We have a unique and exciting opportunity to work at the cutting edge of therapeutic antibody engineering at Roche. You will explore a new avenue towards generating conditionally activatable antibodies, with an approach that has recently been invented and validated at Roche. We are looking for a highly talented scientist (m/f/d) that is excited about exploring uncharted and promising scientific territory.
The position, which is open immediately, is sponsored by the Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which facilitates collaborations between Roche and leading academic research groups from around the world. Within the project, you have the opportunity to advance basic science and technologies in an industrial environment while keeping close contact to your academic co-mentor and academic research. This includes publication of your results in top-rated, peer-reviewed scientific journals, if necessary preceded by priority patent applications.
The workplace
You will be joining Large Molecule Research (LMR), a technological unit within Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED). The main goal of our unit is discovering, optimizing and developing therapeutic antibodies and antibody-like molecules.
Within Large Molecule Research, you will be working in the department of Lead Identification, within a team of skilled and well-experienced Master and PhD-level protein engineers (m/f/d) from diverse backgrounds ranging from biology, (bio-) chemistry to biotechnology and structural biology. What makes working in this department unique is the fact that an exceptionally broad range of scientific techniques is applied, which also presents a great learning opportunity.
What you will be doing
It will be your responsibility to address all topics and perform all tasks that are necessary to successfully cover the objectives of the Postdoc Project
The project revolves around the conditional activation of antibodies by enzymes; such conditional activation e.g. in tumor tissue is useful to increase the antibody´s local potency and/or to reduce its systemic toxicity
You will explore a new and unique approach for conditional activation that has great potential to significantly advance the field
You will apply various cutting edge methods from the fields of antibody engineering, in-vitro evolution and screening; and you will experimentally characterize the antibodies you generate by methods ranging from in vitro affinity determination via biophysical characterization to simple functional assays
We ask you to design and execute the project in close collaboration with internal and external partners, well aligned with the objectives that you want to achieve
Due to the novelty of the approach, you will need to find solutions for experimental problems for which there is no direct blueprint
You will attend (and present at) scientific meetings, interact with the scientific community and publish experimental advances after appropriate IP-protection
Do you have what it takes for this position?
As an ideal applicant, you have a strong passion for science and display great intellectual curiosity, as well as brilliant analytical and problem solving skills. As a result of this, you love to explore new avenues and to find solutions to new problems.
You enjoy working in a team and you are ready and capable to take on responsibility; besides, you are well known for your integrity and your independent and motivated working style
Your scientific foundation: a Ph.D.-level degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology (or related field) with at least 3 years hands-on laboratory experience in molecular biology and protein engineering
Experience in one or more of other fields relevant for the project would be a strong plus, for example in vitro evolution techniques (e.g. phage display), high-throughput screening or bioanalytics for antibodies and/or enzymes
Experience in computational approaches or general programming skills would also be an asset
You are able to accurately record and efficiently communicate scientific data and ideas in English (knowledge of the German language is not mandatory)
This position is limited to a period of two years.
The duration of the RPF fellowship is initially set for two years, with the possibility of extension for a third year. You will be based at the Roche Innovation Center Munich. You will also be connected with our academic partners who will share the mentorship of this project.
More information about the RPF Programme https://www.roche.com/careers/workplaces/wp_research/the-roche-postdoctoral-fellowship-programme.htm
We look forward receiving your application!
Application documents
For your application, please keep it simple. We only ask you for an up-to-date CV, which includes your academic track record and a full publication and conference presentations list. In a short motivation letter, you just need to summarize your relevant scientific experience and include your earliest availability and at least two possible references. All further documents will be handled at a later stage.
Do you have any questions about the current application status or about the job in general?
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