Program Overview:

To be successful in our goals as an organization, AbbVie needs outstanding individuals willing to challenge themselves to find the best solutions for our patients. The AbbVie Postdoc Program is one way we are doing just that. AbbVie Postdoctoral Fellows serve as technical experts who investigate, identify, develop, and optimize new methods / techniques to address critical project needs. Participants continuously seek to improve existing laboratory methods and processes, read and adapt literature to accomplish assignments, and demonstrate mastery of a broad range of experimental techniques and methods of data analysis.

The Postdoctoral Program is designed for true investigational and experimental research. Participants will be mentored by renowned industry scientists and collaborators at AbbVie and focus on delivering cutting-edge advancements in Discovery, Development Sciences, and BioPharma. This enriching training program offers a balance of structured learning and work experience which fosters a learning environment to advance individual development, and offers accessibility to high-level knowledge-building across the drug development continuum.

We are seeking scientists from key U.S.-based academic institutions within preferred areas of science for this unique 2-3 year assignment. Participants will build a solid career foundation in the pharmaceutical industry while building the AbbVie brand as an employer of choice for scientific talent.

Role Overview:

The Postdoctoral Fellow will join an academic-style environment within the Specialized Research in Chaotic Systems (SPaRCS) team, an engineering research group with extensive experience leveraging microfabrication, mechanical, electrical, software, and bio engineering to develop novel instrumentation and technologies for accelerating drug discovery and development. The focus of the research will be the development of organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology. This technology has the potential to transform almost every aspect of pharmaceutical research, from target discovery to efficacy and toxicity studies. Although the FDA has recently eliminated the requirement for drug testing in animals in anticipation of the adoption of OoC models, OoC is not yet sufficiently mature to deliver on these promises.

This Postdoctoral Fellowship will provide a unique opportunity to invent approaches to OoC technology that do not currently exist in the industry. The research aims to develop novel and generalizable biology, materials, microfluidics, and instrumentation to create functionally vascularized OoCs that offer superior lifetimes and a sufficient recapitulation of the true 3D nature of the desired organs to enable their use in disease-on-a-chip models in the fields of ophthalmology, dermatology, immunology, oncology, and neuroscience.

Due to the cross-functional nature of this fellowship, the Postdoc will be advised by a team of scientists with decades of experience in areas including cell biology, toxicology, and pharmacology. Full access will be available to a six-axis, multi-material, 3D bioprinter, a microfabrication clean room, femtosecond laser machining, multiple high-resolution microscopes, and a cell culture laboratory that can all be customized to facilitate development of novel OoC designs.

Responsibilities:

• Efficiently solicit, conceive, prioritize, and investigate ideas for inventing superior technology.
• Proactively seek out new information in the literature with an intent to surpass, not duplicate, the achievements.
• Collaborate with functional and technical experts that will eventually utilize the research to provide AbbVie with a competitive advantage in the discovery and development of new therapeutics.
• Maintain a high level of productivity in the laboratory setting.
• Effectively write and communicate research materials.
• Resolve research hurdles by effectively utilizing available information and technical expertise.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present work at scientific conferences aligned with business objectives.
• Demonstrate a high degree of responsibility in maintaining scientific standards and safe laboratory practices.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD in Cell Biology, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related organ-on-a-chip technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge multiple disciplines spanning biology, materials science, tissue engineering, and microfluidics engineering.
• Interest and ability to contribute outside of primary area of expertise.
• Record of scientific initiative and creativity in research or development activities.
• Capable of independently designing and executing experiments, interpreting data, and identifying appropriate follow-up strategies.
• Excellent project management skills. Ability to multitask and work within timelines.
• Ability to resolve key project hurdles and assumptions by effectively utilizing available information and technical expertise.
• Demonstrated scientific writing skills and strong verbal communication skills.
• Global mindset to thrive in a diverse culture and environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience designing and fabricating microfluidic devices and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering.
• Experience developing novel hydrogel materials that support both organ and vascular development that are also capable of being remodeled into native extra cellular matrix.
• Experience with high resolution imaging microscopy.

Key Leadership Competencies:

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functionally with partners outside of team to enable higher performance.
• Learns fast, grasps the "essence," and can change course quickly where indicated.
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation, and manages to reality.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At AbbVie, we value bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop new and innovative solutions for patients. As an equal opportunity employer we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women’s health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio.