Associate Scientist, Biology

Job Description

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

The Oncology department at Gilead Sciences is seeking an experienced and motivated Associate Scientist/ Senior associate Scientist with exceptional technical skills to support research programs focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies that mobilize the immune response against cancer. The successful candidate will be instrumental in conducting experiments and help develop novel assays to test therapeutic hypotheses and advance immune engager therapeutic candidates to selectively target tumors.

Our highly diverse, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research teams utilize state-of-the-art technologies and innovative methodologies to advance novel immuno-oncology therapies into the clinic. The position has ample opportunities for career growth through acquisition of new skills, experiences, and professional relationships in an inclusive, fast-paced, and resource-rich environment. The successful candidate will contribute to therapeutic candidate characterization in immune cell-mediated killing assays, new admixed immune cells / cancer cells assay development, mechanism of action studies, and flow cytometry-based immune profiling/phenotyping studies in vitro and from dissociated mouse tumor samples.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently execute and analyze studies that support the pre-clinical characterization of immune engager candidates, with contributions to multiple projects

• Support target validation efforts through characterization and generation of cellular models

• Help develop novel, complex cell biology assays to model tumor biology

• Explore mechanism of action of immune engager molecules by functional and Flow cytometry-based characterization of molecules

• Prepare and present findings to the team and at department-wide meetings

• Contribute figures to research reports, manuscripts, INDs, and patent filings

Basic qualifications:

• 4+ Years with BS
• 2+ Years with MS

Preferred qualifications

• Industry research experience preferred (BS +4 years OR MS +2 years) in cancer immunology or related field with a record of achievements (publications)

• Great attention to detail with excellent organizational and record keeping skills

• Strong motivation, independence, and ability to think critically and act creatively to resolve problems

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to integrate into a high-paced multidisciplinary environment
• Experience in running and developing cell-based assays (T cell-mediated killing assays, Jurkat reporter assays)
• Experience in conducting and optimizing cell-based assays, as well as performing studies to assess immune responses in human and animal models (including whole blood, PBMCs, and various primary cell subsets).

• Experience with gene knockdown (RNAi), knockout (CRISPR/Cas9), and overexpression techniques (transfection, viral transduction)

• Hands-on experience in general molecular biology methods, including basic flow cytometry, western blot, ELISA/Luminex/MSD

The salary range for this position is: $109,650.00 - $141,900.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

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Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex , age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact View email address on gilead.yello.co for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

Gilead Sciences will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

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Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.