Principal Scientist I – Quantitative, Translation & ADME Sciences Full-time

AbbVie Scientist Position

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio.

AbbVie is seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientist to join our Quantitative, Translation & ADME Sciences (QTAS) team in North Chicago. The ideal candidate will have a strong background and expertise in drug metabolizing enzyme function, drug-drug interaction concepts, quantitative bioanalysis, ability to drive cutting-edge science and lead a team of junior scientists. Applicants having experience in an adjacent area, such as drug permeability and transport, receptor pharmacology and pharmacokinetic modeling is desirable.

In this exciting role, you will be expected to participate in implementing innovative and quantitative approaches to advance translational ADME using conventional as well as more complex in vitro models. Working in a laboratory and non-laboratory setting, the position will involve the conduct and scientific leadership of in vitro assays as well as applying translational modeling concepts to help drive the global in vitro ADME strategy at AbbVie. The candidate will be expected to implement and/or evaluate new technologies and approaches to support the mechanistic and translational understanding of early and late-stage small molecules to facilitate rapid advancement of drug candidates in our pipeline. In addition, you will have opportunities to contribute to broader areas within DMPK as your experience and expertise warrants.

Core responsibilities include:

• Evaluating novel in vitro tools and methods, and apply established methods and concepts to enable and improve prediction of human PK and drug-drug interaction potential
• Lead, mentor and coach junior staff in established and novel practices in vitro drug metabolism
• Liaise with QTAS, discovery biology/pharmacology/chemistry scientists to generate data and knowledge supporting the build-up of translational, mechanistic models
• Communicate internally and externally on topics related to in vitro drug metabolism
• Keep up to date with emerging literature and science in modeling and in vitro approaches
• Externalize research in the form of full length publications and oral presentations.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD degree Biological/Pharmaceutical Sciences/Chemistry or related field with >10 years of relevant ADME pharma/biotech industry experience; or a Bachelor's/Master's degree with > 15 years' experience with in vitro ADME experiments and DMPK projects, through academic or industry work.
• Deep understanding of drug metabolism and ADME principles including enzyme kinetics, IVIVE and DDI risk assessment
• Strong and relevant publication record as well as a track record of strategic scientific leadership in the in vitro ADME field
• Highly motivated, self-driven and results-oriented person with excellent communication and presentation skills, capable to work both as team player and independent scientific contributor
• Passion for generating ideas, learning, solving technical problems and applying new technologies to further scientific goals.

Key Leadership Competencies:

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of team to enable higher performance
• Ability to inspire and lead others in areas of your expertise
• Learns fast, grasps the “essence” and can change course quickly where indicated
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality

Role is exclusively performed at a site or office and onsite presence is required. Employees who are site/office-based and can occasionally perform their role virtually work both in the office and remotely*, following the policies and regulations in place at their location. US Employees must be in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with flexibility to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Three days in the office is the minimum; some individuals or teams may require more in-office days due to meetings, business/project needs or their role.