Senior Scientist, Virologist/Molecular Biologist - Global Biologics, Swine

Role Description:
Senior Scientist or Principal Scientist, Virologist/Molecular Biologist - Global Biologics, Swine
Zoetis Veterinary Medicine Research and Development (VMRD), Swine Biologicals group, located in Kalamazoo, MI, is seeking a Scientist or Senior Scientist specializing in Virology or Molecular Virology. This role focuses on advancing vaccine discovery and development to introduce new products to the global swine industry. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in both classic virology and molecular biology, including in silico sequence analysis (such as evolutionary studies and phylogenetics) and genomic manipulation. They should demonstrate a solid foundation in hypothesis-driven research and data interpretation, with hands-on experience in cell culture, virus propagation, and molecular biology techniques. Responsibilities will include conducting and supporting research activities related to the development of novel swine vaccines. The candidate will apply their skills both directly, through laboratory work, and indirectly, by supporting and mentoring colleagues to achieve vaccine development goals.

This position is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan .

Position Summary:
Zoetis is the largest animal health company in the world with an industry-leading research and development team. The Swine Biologics group conducts basic and applied research to support development of safe and effective vaccines for the global swine industry. We are recruiting a highly motivated scientist to contribute to advancing strategies in swine vaccine development at Zoetis. This scientist will have a specific focus on applied virology, molecular biology and vaccinology.

Position Responsibilities:

• The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge and experience in microbiology, with a strong emphasis on virology, molecular biology, and immunology. They should be skilled in vaccine antigen identification, genetic sequence comparison, and the manipulation or modification of viruses. Additional expertise in constructing vaccine strains and developing novel technologies --such as chimeric antigen design, vector construction, and gene editing-- is highly desirable.
• In this role, the candidate will work both independently and as part of a cross-functional team as a Scientist or Senior Scientist to advance swine vaccine research. They will collaborate with colleagues to conduct both basic and applied research addressing unmet needs in vaccine development. While the position does not have direct reports, the individual may guide and mentor other scientists in laboratory skills, including viral vaccine development and characterization. They will play an active role in developing research strategies, formulating testable hypotheses, and driving the discovery and development of viral biologic products.
• Key responsibilities include designing and executing hypothesis-driven laboratory studies, reviewing and interpreting relevant scientific literature, and applying this knowledge to research goals. The candidate will contribute expertise in identifying immunogenic components of swine viral pathogens, understanding viral evolution and epidemiology as it relates to vaccines, and characterizing vaccine targets using established and innovative technologies. Their work will support the development of both live and non-replicating vaccine approaches for swine.
• The individual will provide hands-on technical expertise, routinely applying a range of microbiological and molecular techniques such as cell culture, viral propagation, genetic manipulation, and characterization. They will work closely with upstream, downstream, and functional partners, using state-of-the-art methods to better understand viruses and advance the development of novel vaccines. Projects will focus on generating and identifying new viral vaccine candidates.
• Throughout their work, the Scientist or Senior Scientist will demonstrate a logical approach to problem-solving, maintain high standards of laboratory safety and documentation, and regularly consult scientific literature to enhance their understanding of animal diseases and emerging technologies.
• Strong communication skills are essential, as the candidate will collaborate across teams within Zoetis and contribute to vaccine development efficiently and effectively. They will also prepare internal and external presentations and publications to support team, organizational, and personal goals.

Preferred Experience:

• Expertise in maintenance of and experimentation with cell culture, virus propagation and characterization, and viral vector modification. Direct experience with growth and manipulation of important viral pathogens of relevance to swine is desired.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques including DNA extraction, PCR, and microbe manipulation, quantification, and cloning. Experience with genetic sequence analysis and knowledge of bioinformatics tools/databases, BLAST, and genetic engineering software (ie. DNASTAR/Lasergene, etc,) is desired.
• Experience with the vaccine discovery process or adjacent space is desired.
• Experience with genomic based approaches used for identification of virulence factors and candidate gene-deleted or protein-based vaccine approaches (Ingenuity Pathways Analysis, VFdb, IEdb, and AlfaFold) is preferred.
• Experience with current methods for analysis of viral phylodynamics (phylogenetics, population dynamics and evolution) and B and T cell epitope prediction is desired.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD degree in Virology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field is required. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree and significant, relevant hands-on laboratory research experience will also be considered.
• Extensive training and experience in molecular techniques are essential, particularly in virology, molecular or genotypic characterization, and cell culture modification. Experience with sequence analysis, immunology, and epitope identification is highly desirable.
• Candidates must demonstrate experience in conducting hypothesis-driven laboratory research. They should be able to apply their practical laboratory skills to research projects, working both independently and as part of a team within their area of expertise. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is also required.

Full time

Regular

Colleague

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