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Research and Development

R&D
Where your curiosity drives the
miracles of
science

(Senior) Associate Scientist

Ghent, Belgium
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At a glance

Bring your curiosity to a team where deep immunoscience meets cutting-edge innovation. Across oncology, rare diseases, neurology, and vaccines, you’ll work at the intersection of lab science and AI-powered discovery — all while collaborating across boundaries to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Whether you want to deepen your scientific expertise or grow as a leader, you’ll find the opportunity here.

Title:Senior Associate Scientist

  • Location:BE / Gent

  • Work Arrangements:Hybrid mode (4 days Office presence – 1 day home office)

About Sanofi:

At Sanofi, we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives. We are an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions.

About the Role:

Join our Host & Tool Creation and Upstream Processing (HTC-USP) team as a (Senior) Associate Scientist and play a vital role in producing Nanobody molecules that have the potential to transform patients' lives.

Main responsibilities:

• Perform fermentation activities across all scales, from 0.25 L process development to 400 L non-GMP large-scale production

• Contribute to day-to-day operations and process development activities

• Take responsibility for large-scale (100-400L) fermenter training initiatives, maintenance, and utilities management

Participatein theselectionof the best Nanobody molecules for advancement to clinical testing

• Represent the USP team in cross-functional meetings whenrequired

• Manage experiment planning and data collection

• Contribute to digitization initiatives within the team and department, including automated workflows, database connectivity, and in-silico prediction tools

About you

Experience:

Demonstratedexperience working with bioreactors, both small scale (single-use, glass) and large scale (stainless steel)

• Experience with programming, databases, and business intelligence tools

• Experience in making and delivering effective scientific presentations is a plus

• Project management and/or experience in leading small teams is a plus

• Experience with high-throughput and automation equipment (e.g., liquid handling equipment, robotics) is a plus

Soft skills:

• Strong teamwork mentality with a collaborative mindset

• Meticulous approach to laboratory work and respect for fermentation equipment

• Genuine passion for developing therapeutics that can change patients' lives

Technical skills:

• Digital mindset withproficiencyin programming, databases, and business intelligence tools

• Comfortable working with fermentation equipment at various scales

Education:

• Master's degree in life sciences (e.g., biotechnology, biology, molecular biology, industrial engineering, bio-engineering, or related field) or equivalent by experience

Languages:

• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written

Why choose us?

Meaningful Work:Contribute directly to medicines that transform people's lives

Collaborative Environment:Join a diverse, supportive team spanning different ages and experiences working together daily

Professional Development:Opportunity to enhance your skills, fermentationexpertise, and shape the digital future of our department

Work-Life Balance:Full-time position (40 hours/week) with 12 work-hour reduction holidays annually, flexible working hours, and one day of telework per week

Team Culture:Active social activities and a fun, collaborative atmosphere

• Be part of a companythat'stransforming healthcare through innovation and science

• Join a diverse, inclusive team that values your unique perspective

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progressdoesn'thappen without people – people fromdifferent backgrounds, indifferent locations, doingdifferent roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So,let'sbe those people

#LI-EUR

#LI-HYBRID

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Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Watch 'One day at Sanofi' and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at sanofi.com

Apply now
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Why work with us

  • Expand your horizons. Grow through curiosity, with support to move, learn, and lead in a culture that champions mentorship, mobility, and bold development.

  • Accelerate results with technology. Harness the power of AI and automation to push scientific boundaries and reimagine what's possible in drug discovery.

  • Impact through inclusive innovation. Help deliver better science and fairer outcomes by driving inclusive research that reaches more people, in more meaningful ways.

  • Turn patient needs into breakthrough science. Drive scientific breakthroughs that start with patient needs – and end in treatments that change lives.

Meet Nils Libert, Associate Scientist

Meet Nils Libert, an Associate Scientist in Belgium, where he plays a key role in advancing groundbreaking research. Learn how his work helps drive innovation, uncover new scientific possibilities, and contribute to life-changing treatments that impact patients around the world.

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"At Sanofi, we are building an R&D engine powered by the best science, digital innovation, and a commitment to transforming the lives of patients around the world."

Houman Ashrafian

EVP & Head of R&D

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Discover how we're reshaping the future of medicine through immunoscience – unlocking bold, cross-disease breakthroughs that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

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