Analytical Sciences Associate Scientist - VIE Contract

Are you ready to shape the future of medicine? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress. Join our BioPhysical Profilling team as Analytical Sciences Associate Scientist VIE and you’ll be responsible of designing and conducting studies in the field of biophysical characterization, developability and early formulation development of NANOBODY® molecules but also of innovative and challenging new modalities.  

You will be involved in several projects with focus on protein analytics or CMC (either projects in pre-clinical stage and/or platform improvement projects) in collaboration with the entire analytical team and other departments where applicable.  

At Sanofi Ghent, we discover and develop NANOBODY® molecules, a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single domain antibody fragments derived from Camelids or Llamas. NANOBODY® molecules make a significant difference in the treatment of serious and diverse human diseases.

Each day you get a chance to contribute, to develop your skills and experience but also to be part of a young, fast moving and international company. 

The BioPhysical Profiling team, part of the Analytics group of the Early-CMC Department is responsible for non-GMP R&D activities to support NANOBODY® discovery, developability and (pre)-clinical development activities up to FIH (first-in-human) such as: 

• Developability assessment
• (pre-) Formulation studies 
• Stability studies 
• In process monitoring and control and batch release 
• Digitalization and big data analysis  
• Continuous improvement and innovation in the field of biophysical, stability and formulation predictions 

We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We’re also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?

Main responsibilities:

• Implement new technologies and / or predictive assays to strengthen our NANOBODY® development workflow.
• Report your data in electronic lab notebooks and databases to prepare for statistical or other big data analysis.
• Perform chromatographic or biophysical analysis (SE-UHPLC, DLS, HIC,…) to support the NANOBODY® lead optimization.
• Perform pre-formulation studies to support the NANOBODY® lead selection (Buffer preparation, A2/KD, Tm/Tagg, viscosity).
• Perform stability studies using a plethora of different techniques including e.g. chromatography, charge variants and subvisible particle analysis. 
• Prepare experimental plan and plan lab activities independently.
• Be involved in data analysis and prepare summary presentation or reports of your results. 
• Communicate results and observations to the team.
• Actively contribute to project-oriented teams and to lab organization routine tasks.

About you

Experience:

• Previous laboratory experience is mandatory.
• Expertise in a relevant field is a plus: Biophysical and chemical analysis of biologics, liquid or lyophylized protein formulation.
• Experience in Biotech/Pharma industry and in any field or assay mentioned in the job description above, or in statistical analysis, digitalization or big data analysis is a plus.

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, (bio)chemistry or equivalent.

Technical and soft skills:

• Comfortable with controlling high tech instrumentation, and ambition to quickly learn about relevant techniques.
• Ability to design experiments independently, to plan and perform experiments and to prepare concise reports of the results.
• Able to work independently and in team, enthusiastic and self-motivated.
• Good sense for initiative, quality, accuracy and detail, hands-on mentality.
• Good writing and presentation skills.
• Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Languages:

• Knowledge of English (written and spoken).