AbbVie is seeking a distinguished Principal Scientist I to lead innovative peptide therapeutic programs within our Immuno-Pharmacology and Peptide Discovery team in the Immunology Discovery organization. This individual will provide both scientific and people leadership for peptide projects, driving efforts from early-stage discovery through IND-enabling development. Additionally, the role will lead platform initiatives to enhance AbbVie’s peptide capabilities across immunology, ensuring that cutting-edge peptide technologies are leveraged to address critical needs in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. As a key member of a cross-functional, matrixed team, the Principal Scientist I will promote robust data generation and effective communication to achieve critical program milestones. The successful candidate will collaborate widely with internal and external partners, representing their programs in internal governance reviews and at external scientific forums. Through strong leadership and deep expertise in immunology and peptide science, this individual will champion AbbVie’s patient-focused R&D mission by translating breakthrough peptide research into novel immunology therapies for patients.

Responsibilities: 

• Principal Investigator Leadership: Act as a principal investigator, spearheading peptide biology and immunology research programs while generating novel therapeutic ideas and guiding the scientific strategy to advance AbbVie’s peptide therapeutic platform.
• Drive Program Execution: Independently lead the scientific execution of one or more peptide therapeutic programs, taking accountability for experimental design, data integrity, and progress toward key project milestones.
• Lead Lab and Cross-Functional Activities: Contribute to program success through both hands-on laboratory research and cross-functional leadership. Lead cross-functional project teams to advance peptide therapeutic candidates from late discovery through IND-enabling studies to clinical transition, ensuring alignment across disciplines and timely achievement of key milestones.
• IND-Enabling Data: Develop, generate and oversee comprehensive IND-enabling data packages, including preclinical efficacy, pharmacokinetic, toxicology, and immunogenicity studies, to support regulatory submissions and enable the smooth transition of peptide candidates into clinical development.
• Peptide Optimization Strategy and Pharmacology: Guide the scientific planning for peptide lead optimization within Immunology team, integrating structure–activity relationship insights and cross-functional data to enhance candidate potency, selectivity, stability, pharmacokinetic properties and build PK/PD relationship for program advancement.
• Immunological Assays & Biomarkers: Design, oversee and execute immunological assays and biomarker strategies to elucidate mechanisms of action and pharmacodynamic responses for peptide therapeutics, providing hands-on technical guidance to ensure robust, reproducible results.
• Team Mentorship & Development: Mentor and supervise a high-performing team of scientists by providing technical guidance, fostering an innovative and collaborative laboratory culture, and supporting professional growth to drive scientific excellence.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Provide subject matter expertise in peptide biology and immunology to cross-functional teams and senior leadership, advising on key scientific questions and guiding program decisions with data-driven insights.
• Scientific Documentation: Ensure rigorous documentation of research activities by authoring and reviewing detailed technical reports, experimental protocols, and patent applications, while maintaining high standards of data integrity and quality.
• External Scientific Representation: Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at external scientific conferences, effectively representing AbbVie’s scientific excellence in peptide therapeutics and immunology.
• Innovation & Pipeline Expansion: Drive early-stage peptide discovery projects and platform innovation initiatives, evaluating and implementing emerging technologies and novel approaches to expand AbbVie’s peptide therapeutic capabilities and pipeline.