Principal Scientist, Structural Biology

Principal Scientist, Structural Biology

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. R&D is committed to discovering and delivering transformational vaccines and medicines to prevent and change the course of disease.

We believe the Greater Boston area is an important hub for the biotech and pharma industry, which is why we have invested in growing our footprint and expanding our R&D space in Cambridge, with a primary focus on additional state-of-the-art lab space. Here, we will bring together talent and expertise, building upon GSK’s long history of vaccine development, to create globally leading viral capabilities and cutting-edge vaccines technologies, as we add to our robust portfolio targeting infectious diseases at every stage of life.

The US Structural Biology Center of Excellence (CoE) at GSK, a new joint Vaccines and Pharma Center, will be established in Cambridge, MA in 2025. The mission of the CoE is to apply the full range of structural biology, protein biochemistry, and computational tools to design vaccine antigens, RNAs, delivery systems, and formulations for vaccines as well as to design antibodies, biologics, and small molecules.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated structural biologist to join the CoE. As a Principal Scientist, you will need to demonstrate knowledge in the various aspects of a structural project from protein expression/purification, biophysical characterization, crystal growth and X-ray crystallography. The position will require active collaboration with diverse teams both inside and outside the organization to address key challenges with the best scientific insights possible.

You will be expected to use and maintain a scientifically current, state-of-the-art laboratory environment, introduce new methods and protocols related to your area of expertise, perform complex data management and data interpretation tasks, and make effective decisions that influence project direction. Your critical thinking skills will be crucial. You will need to anticipate problems, proactively seek solutions, and use your scientific expertise to solve project-related problems.

As a Principal Scientist, you will be expected to possess excellent communication skills, prepare detailed oral or written reports of results, independently author scientific papers and internal reports, and represent the team by presenting effectively at internal and external meetings.

Your multicultural responsibilities will also be part of the role. You will need to interact with scientists based in other centers or countries, ensuring that you can access the most up-to-date knowledge and capabilities to efficiently fulfill your missions.

This role will initially be located at GSK’s Rockville site in Maryland from 2024 to 2025, and will permanently move to Cambridge, Massachusetts afterwards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop design strategies, screening funnels and other mechanistic studies to support vaccine or medicine lead identification, validation, and progression.
• Collaborate with the protein production, molecular design, and biophysics teams to design new constructs and mutants based on structural analysis for all aspects of project progression.
• Design and implement procedures to conduct advanced research and experiments utilizing techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), to determine the three-dimensional structures of proteins and protein complexes.
• Deliver reagents and structural data to impact projects through protein expression & purification, crystal growth & optimization, data collection, and X-ray structure solution experiments.
• Manage, use, and maintain the equipment in a state-of-the-art crystallization laboratory.
• Interpret the results of structural and biophysical experiments to inform structure-based drug design.
• Keep current with the latest developments and techniques in the field and mentor other researchers as needed.
• Document your work and ensure appropriate quality control experiments are conducted to support intellectual property and reagent reuse by other groups.
• Ensure you follow safety procedures and regulations in the laboratory.
• Author, present, and publish research findings and updates in internal reports, project meetings, and external scientific meetings when appropriate.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD in a structural biology related field with a focus on protein crystallography.
• Three or more years of experience with protein chemistry and structural biology.
• Ability to design and conduct complex experiments and interpret results.
• Three or more years of experience in macromolecular crystallography, including the principles and techniques used in the field.
• Three or more years of laboratory experience in protein expression, biochemistry, protein crystallization, and data collection.
• Three or more years of experience in using and maintaining crystallography equipment.
• Three or more years of experience using crystallography software tools for data processing, structure solution, refinement, and analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Post-Doctoral or industrial research experience in protein biochemistry, macromolecular crystallography, molecular modelling, molecular biology, computational biology, or other related discipline.
• Experience with other macromolecular structural determination methods such as cryo-EM, small-, medium-, and wide-angle X-ray scattering, electron diffraction and tomography.
• Knowledge of biophysical techniques such as mass photometry, mass spectroscopy, differential scanning fluorimetry, high performance liquid chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, isothermal titration calorimetry, bio-layer interferometry, and surface plasmon resonance is a plus.
• Experience in Bash shell scripting, Python, R, SQL, C++, JavaScript or other relevant programming languages is a plus.
• Project leadership experience is a plus.
• Experience with computational modelling and analysis of protein structures, and structure-based design of small molecule drugs, antibodies and vaccine is a plus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a fluency in English.
• Able to efficiently manage uncertainty, changes in priority and timeline restrictions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a diverse team.
• Effective communication skills to present findings and collaborate with other scientists.

The annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges from $111,350 to $150,650 taking into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave.

Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

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