Principal Scientist, Molecular Biology

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and Med Tech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.

Function:
Discovery & Pre‑Clinical/Clinical Development
Job Sub Function:
Biotherapeutics R&D
Job Category:
Scientific/Technology
All Job Posting Locations:
Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

We are searching for the best talent for a Principal Scientist, Molecular Biology to be onsite in Spring House, PA.

The in‑Vivo Antibody Discovery group within Biologics Discovery is responsible for lead antibody generation from immunized animals with state‑of‑the‑art technologies including single B‑cell sorting, hybridoma, display and microfluidics. In this key role, the Principal Scientist will lead a team responsible for recovery of antibody sequences from selected hybridoma cells or single B‑cells. The candidate is expected to work with automation experts to automate next‑generation sequencing workflows for efficient sequence recovery.

In‑depth knowledge and extensive experience in molecular cloning of BCR using various approaches including RT‑PCR, Topo cloning, in‑fusion cloning, multiplex NGS, 10X Genomics are required.

• Provide day‑to‑day in‑person guidance and mentoring within the V‑Gene Recovery (VGR) team
• Lead antibody sequence recovery from selected hits of diverse sources, including hybridoma, single B‑cells, immune repertoires, and in‑vitro display platforms
• Execute and optimize molecular biology workflows, including next‑generation sequencing (NGS) and conventional Sanger sequencing, to enable efficient and accurate antibody discovery
• Work with automation experts to automate and streamline NGS workflows and identify opportunities for process improvements
• Manage laboratory operations by maintaining equipment, ensuring sufficient inventory of supplies, and overseeing routine maintenance of NGS instruments and related laboratory equipment
• Conduct comprehensive data analysis, interpret sequencing results, and generate detailed reports. Bioinformatics experience is a plus
• Present research findings in internal meetings, clearly communicating scientific results and providing insights into data interpretation
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across functional areas to advance therapeutic programs and contribute scientific expertise to multiple projects in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment
• Document work accurately and promptly using Electronic Lab Notebook systems (e.g., Signal) and generate protocols and SOPs
• Work closely with stakeholders and project managers to address operational needs and ensure seamless workflow execution
• Demonstrate scientific curiosity and problem‑solving skills, contributing to innovation and continuous improvement in molecular biology and sequencing workflows

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required
• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry or a related field is highly preferred

• Minimum 6 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and/or academic setting
• Team management experience
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including PCR, molecular cloning, and plasmid design
• Expertise with DNA sequencing (NGS, 10X Genomics, Sanger) and sequence data analysis related to antibody discovery

• Familiarity with techniques for antibody repertoire analysis and single‑cell analysis
• Knowledge of data management and visualization tools for large datasets, and knowledge with statistical analysis of NGS results
• Knowledge on leveraging repertoire sequencing from immunized animals for AI/ML‑driven antibody discovery

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact your accommodation resource.