Senior Associate Scientist - Virology

Why Patients Need You

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best-in-class medicines to patients around the world.

What You Will Achieve

As a Senior Associate Scientist, you will be at the center of our scientific vaccine operations and you’ll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. You will join a team responsible for generating viruses to support clinical vaccine research; viruses of particular interest include respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, and influenza viruses. Primary responsibilities will include production of high titer virus stocks, performing virus characterization assays, and coordinating with teams across the site to ensure viral reagent needs are met. You will manage and update reagent inventories, plan and execute production of viruses, and organize virus distributions to other groups within Pfizer to meet critical deadlines supporting vaccine research and development. Other responsibilities will include collaborating on data sharing between groups, development of novel methods and assays, and supporting high throughput assay activities for clinical and non-clinical research programs.

Your strong foundation in general scientific practice, its principles and concepts will help in meeting critical deadlines. You will be relied on as a technical contributor to assess tasks and make decisions that involve direct application of your knowledge. It is your hard work and focus that will make Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

How You Will Achieve It

• Exercise key team effectiveness skills (e.g., goal setting, communication, problem solving, growth mindset) within the immediate work group

• Maintain mammalian cell lines and propagate virus stocks

• Titrate viruses using methods such as TCID50 and focus-forming assays

• Manage and maintain virus and reagent inventories

• Write, review, and update documents associated with virus production and functional assays, including standard operating procedures, test methods, and technical reports

• Collaborate with colleagues in Pfizer Vaccines organization including early bioprocess, preclinical, and clinical development groups

• Present progress and results on viral production and processes to colleagues and management

• Develop novel methods to improve large-scale virus production

Qualifications

Must-Have

• BS degree in life sciences (e.g. biology, immunology, virology, microbiology) or related discipline with 3 to 5 years of laboratory experience or MS degree in life sciences or related discipline with 0 - 4 years of laboratory experience

• Experience in a BSL-2 setting and aseptic techniques

• Experience with mammalian cell culture

• Ability to multitask and carry out responsibilities independently as an influential team member

• Strong attention to detail, good verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to collaborate and work in team environment

• Proficient computer skills including word processing, Excel, and PowerPoint

Nice-to-Have

• Background in virology, especially respiratory and/or herpes viruses

• Experience with large-scale cell cultures, e.g., suspension culture and bioreactors

• Experience analyzing gene sequences and mutations

• Experience developing and troubleshooting cell-based procedures and immunoassays

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to meet the standard requirements for a lab-based role and perform all typical lab related activities (lifting Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations.  These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure.  Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act.  Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government.  If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.


EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status.  Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA.  Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.  This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

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Research and Development