Senior Scientist Neuroscience

Lonza

Oss, Netherlands

A Senior Scientist Neuroscience will play a key role in giving direction to and implementing the R&D agenda of Bioconjugates Research in the field of neuroscience and neurodegeneration with a strong focus on the Blood-Brain Barrier (in vitro or in vivo). The Senior Scientist Neuroscience is an experienced professional who has impact on their own team as well as closely related work teams in organic chemistry and biochemistry. The Senior Scientist Neuroscience is accountable for the performance and results in the assigned projects including timelines, cost control and the development of the team.

What you will do:

In the context of enhancement of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) crossing, evaluates transcytosis mechanisms, i.e. receptor-mediated transport (RTM, e.g., TfR1, CD98hc, IGF1R).
Proposes strategies in complex bioconjugations. Applies concepts published in literature beyond the original scope. Performs molecular engineering support. Performs complex enzymatic and chemical reactions on antibodies, nanobodies (VHH), and other proteins or expedite this to the team. Builds on existing state-of-the-art and identifies new opportunities in the field of BBB crossing.
Designs, plans and coordinates in vitro and in vivo evaluation of bioconjugates for BBB crossing on efficacy, PK/PD and brain exposure studies.
Executes within the biochemistry team or outsourced to a CRO and critically assesses the results to guide project direction.
Maintains rigorous experimental documentation and reproducibility standards
Collects and interprets experimental data to drive project direction. Prepares high-quality materials for internal and external stakeholders, including portfolio governance meetings and develops examples supporting IP filings. Writes introduction section of patent filing document. Translates scientific results into a broader business context and clearly communicates strategic implications to management.
Acts as project lead for projects with a budget of 200-500 k Euro ensuring the accountability stays with the project sponsor. Performs project management diligently and reshapes where necessary based on stakeholder’s feedback. Contribute to portfolio strategy for CNS programs.
Leads projects and actively performs stakeholder management activities through all stage gates, from early ideation phase until technology launch.
Responsible for the supervision, training and development of 2-4 direct reports. Proposes talent exposure and development initiatives for direct reports. Promotes development and scientific competence. Understands and explains the corporate strategy to peers and/or team. Assists to talent attraction and hiring activities.
Supports the identification and establishment of external collaborations (CROs, academia, partners) in alignment with R&D priorities
Responsible for communication strategy plan initiation with academic partners and strategic partners. Keeps track of timelines and budgets for collaborations and outsourced work.
Anticipates, evaluates and implements trends and innovations in their area of expertise. This could also be achieved through collaboration with external partners or by staying current with scientific literature and IP landscape. Contributes to and prepared for decision making within the R&D department by recommending new technologies or methodologies.
Represents the team in group, project and steering team meetings. Involved in customer meetings and where needed also supports customer interactions and contributes to building scientific credibility with external stakeholders.
Prepares abstracts and presents data at internal meetings and external scientific conferences - as presentations or posters. Prepare scientific manuscripts.

What we are looking for:

PHD in Neuroscience or Protein Engineering.
5-10 years relevant experience in Neuroscience.
Proven experience in conducting in vivo experiments.
Knowledgeable in neuroscience, neurodegeneration, pharmacology, protein engineering, or related field.
Experienced with brain-targeting modalities (bispecific mAbs, shuttles).
Experienced with BBB models, transgenic mouse models, endothelial cell biology, protein, antibody or bioconjugate characterization.
Familiar with CNS drug delivery challenges, imaging, multicolor immunohistochemistry and bioanalytical methods (ELISA, capillary depletion) and readouts.
In-dept understanding of procedures and principles within their own discipline and a basic knowledge and understanding in other disciplines.
Ability to see opportunities across different disciplines, combine relevant information and to translate this into new ideas and technologies.
Sound problem solving skills in the own discipline.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present complex scientific data effectively.
Ideally ability to analyze and characterize antibodies and other proteins with laboratory techniques and equipment: Protein A chromatography, SEC and IEX, SDS-PAGE, RP‑UPLC, SE-UPLC and UPLC‑MS.
Ability to work with relevant software programs (incl. MS Office. GraphPad Prism) and relevant databases (SciFinder, WIPO).