Job Descriptions in Research & Development
Vice President of Research and Development
Job Description
Develops operating plan and develops strategic objectives that support the company's research and development strategies. Determines overall organizational structure and allocations of managerial responsibilities. Provides leadership to direct others in solving complex problems. Reviews and approves all major projects. Exercises authority to implement and initiate projects. Participates with senior management in developing and establishing organizational and company policies. Receives strategic guidance only. Make final decisions on administrative and operational matters. Directs all major functions and activities within the research area. Integrates these functions and activities with those of other major organizations. Has demonstrated management and strategic planning skills. Capable of representing the company in all related technical matters of high significance. Responsible for introduction of new technology enhancement into the research area. Responsible for the scientific and career growth of employees.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and 15 years' management experience.
Scientific Director
Job Description
Responsible for directing the activities of multiple sections or an entire program area in the research department through subordinate managers. Undertakes long-term and short-term planning and supervision of projects that require interaction with business and manufacturing units. Makes decisions on work programs and monitors project and program costs. May conduct and collaborate with others on basic research relevant to long-term objectives and concerns. Collaborates on patent applications and manuscripts for publication. Develops strategies to ensure effective achievement of scientific/business objectives. Monitors and evaluates completion of tasks and projects. Develops budgets for capital expenditures, labor and contracts. Makes final decision on administrative or operational matters.
Represents the organization as prime internal and customer contact on contracts or operations. Conducts briefing and technical meetings for top management and customer representatives. Instrumental in attracting and obtaining major new company business contracts.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 12 years' experience in a research environment.
Associate Scientific Director
Job Description
Responsible for planning, coordinating and managing the activities of one or more sections or projects in the research department. Undertakes long-term and short-term planning and supervision of projects, which generally require interaction with business and manufacturing units. Makes decisions on work programs and monitors project and program costs. May conduct and collaborate with others on basic research relevant to long-term objectives and concerns. Collaborates on patent applications and manuscripts for publication. Develops tactics to ensure effective achievement of scientific/business objectives. Monitors and evaluates completion of tasks and projects. Assists in developing budgets for capital expenditures, labor and contracts.
Frequent contacts with equivalent inter-organizational managers and customer representatives concerning projects, operational decisions, scheduling requirements, or contractual clarifications. Conducts briefings and technical meetings for internal and external representatives including equivalent or above management.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 10 years' experience in a research environment.
Principal Scientist
Job Description
Initiates, directs and executes scientific research and development that is critical to corporate strategies and image. Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and concepts to potential inventions, products and problems. Makes major contributions to the scientific direction of the company including initiation of research that may lead to major new programs. Participates in development of patentable technology. May be responsible for management and professional development of research group. Plans and executes laboratory research. Maintains broad knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theory. Makes important contributions to scientific literature and conferences.
Exhibits an exceptional degree of sustained ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness. Applies and/or develops highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories and concepts that may be new to the industry.
May serve as consultant to top management in long-range corporate planning concerning new or projected areas of technological research and advancements. Key spokesperson to customer personnel on corporate capabilities and future efforts. May be instrumental in attracting and obtaining major new company business contracts and/or grants. Recognized as a scientific leader within the company.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 10 years' experience in a research environment. Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts is also required. As an alternative, post doctorate experience may be considered if combined with a minimum of 12-15 years related experience.
Senior Scientist
Job Description
Initiates, directs and executes scientific research and development that is critical to corporate strategies and image. Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and concepts to potential inventions, projects and problems. Plans and executes laboratory research. Maintains a broad knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theory. Makes major contributions to scientific literature and conferences. Acts as spokesperson on corporate research and development. Participates in development of patent applications. May be responsible for management and professional development of research group. Interfaces with various departments.
Projects require expert and extensive knowledge of advanced principles, theories and concepts in area of expertise. Contributes to the development of principles and concepts new to the field.
Often acts as project leader. Serves as organization consultant and spokesperson on specialized projects or programs. Acts as advisor to top management and customers on advanced technical research studies and applications.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 5-10 years' experience or MS with 8-10 years' experience in a research environment. Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts is also required. As an alternative, post doctorate experience may be considered if combined with a minimum of 12-15 years related experience.
Scientist II
Job Description
Responsible for the initiation, design, development, execution and implementation of scientific research projects in collaboration with others, that are critical to corporate strategies and image. Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and concepts to potential inventions and projects. Serves as in-house and outside consultant. Participates in development of patent applications. May manage and be responsible for professional development of research group. May coordinate interdepartmental activities and research efforts. Contributes to scientific literature and conferences.
Projects require expert and extensive knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories in area of expertise. Uses professional concepts and company procedures to solve a wide range of complex scientific problems in creative and imaginative ways.
May represent the organization as prime technical contact on contracts or projects requiring coordination across organizational lines. Provides intra/inter-group scientific leadership and training. Often acts as mentor and may act as project leader.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 2-5 years' experience or MS with 8-10 years' experience in a research environment.
Scientist I
Job Description
Designs, implements and executes scientific research and development projects in collaboration with a larger research team. Investigates the feasibility of applying a variety of scientific principles and concepts to potential inventions and products. Demonstrates potential for technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration with others and independent thought. May coordinate interdepartmental activities and research efforts. Contributes to scientific literature and conferences.
Projects require substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories in area of expertise. Uses professional concepts and procedures to solve a wide range of difficult scientific problems in imaginative ways.
Involved in intra/inter-group teams regarding project design and implementation. Provides scientific guidance and training to more junior staff. May directly supervise one or more members of research group.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 0-2 years' experience or MS with 8-10 years' experience in a research environment.
Principal Research Associate
Job Description
This position encompasses all the responsibilities of the Senior Research Associate, with either additional formal responsibility for supervising a distinct group, or additional technical responsibilities of a very independent nature that require the evaluation of tangible variance factors. If functioning in the more senior technical versus supervisory capacity this position would typically involve acting as the primary investigator in conducting his/her own experiments and would routinely exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
Has expert understanding of and ability to apply principles, theories and concepts in specialized area of responsibility, together with working knowledge of related disciplines. Projects require a high level of familiarity with current scientific literature together with the capability to select methods and techniques of obtaining solutions including the development of new scientific techniques.
Typically leads department/project team in providing services or solutions to complex technical problems. Serves as consultant within area of expertise for other sections and/or divisions.
Education/Experience
Requires a BS/MS and 5-8 years' regulatory affairs experience in the development of biological or pharmaceutical products or 2-5 years with a Masters and demonstrated working knowledge of scientific principles. In-depth knowledge of FDA laws is desirable.
Senior Research Associate
Job Description
Responsible for performing research and development experiments for projects and products in collaboration with others. Uses professional concepts in accordance with company objectives to solve complex problems in creative and effective ways. Investigates, creates and develops new methods and technologies for project advancement. Regularly exercises technical discretion in design, execution and interpretation of experiments that contribute to project goals. Contributes to project process within scientific discipline through innovative research. Prepares technical reports, summaries, protocols and quantitative analyses. May participate in scientific conferences and make contributions to publications and patents.
Has full understanding of and ability to apply established principles, theories and concepts in area of responsibility, together with a working knowledge of related disciplines. Projects require familiarity with current scientific literature together with capability to select methods and techniques for obtaining solutions within broadly defined practices and procedures.
May be involved in teams, which include participation from other sections and/or divisions. May provide guidance to less senior personnel. May assume leading role in providing solutions to difficult, though defined, problems associated with specific projects.
Education/Experience
Requires a BS in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 5-8 years' related laboratory experience, or MS with 2-5 years' experience.
Research Associate
Job Description
Responsible for performing research and development experiments for projects and products, in collaboration with others. Regularly exercises technical discretion in the design, execution and interpretation of experiments that contribute to project goals. Contributes to project process within scientific discipline through innovative research. Prepares technical reports, summaries, protocols and quantitative analyses. May participate in external seminars and scientific conferences.
Has full understanding of and the ability to apply established principles, theories and concepts in area of responsibility. Projects may require familiarity with current scientific literature together with the capability to select methods and techniques for obtaining solutions within generally defined practices and policies.
Contacts are primarily with direct supervisors and others in section or group for guidance and regarding status of work projects. May interact with other sections/divisions on routine matters.
Education/Experience
Requires BS in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 2-5 years' related laboratory experience, or MS with 0-2 years' experience.
Research Assistant
Job Description
Responsible for performing research and laboratory tasks for projects and products, in collaboration with others. Projects may require the exercise of technical discretion in the design, execution or interpretation of experiments. Makes detailed observations, analyzes data and interprets results. Prepares technical reports, summaries, protocols and quantitative analyses. Has an understanding and/or application of fundamental principles, theories and concepts in the area of responsibility. Projects require the ability to read and understand relevant scientific literature.
Contacts are primarily with direct supervisors and others in section or group for guidance and regarding status of work projects.
Education/Experience
Requires a certificate, AS/BS or equivalent in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 0-2 years' related laboratory experience.
Bioinformatics Scientist/Engineer
Job Description
Develops gene discovery algorithms for integrating sequence-based/functional knowledge about genes to help scientists analyze and interpret gene-expression data. Analyzes DNA information and identifies opportunities and needs for innovative solutions for the analysis and management of biological data in relevant databases. Assists in the development of software and custom scripts to automate data retrieval, manipulation, and analysis; application of statistics, and visualization tools. May mange some of the processes involved in database design, interface design, and information processing.
Provides leadership in the development, evaluation and deployment of gene centric information systems and works closely with scientists and other experimental departments in developing statistical and probabilistic methods for gene clustering/analysis.
Other responsibilities may include the initiation and management of external relationships and collaborations with academic and commercial parties, evaluation of third party products and technologies, and management of acquisition and implementation.
Education/Experience
Requires MS or PhD in Bioinformatics, Statistics, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology or Computer Science, Computational Chemistry, or related field and 1-4 years of industry experience.
Proficiency in programming languages like C/C++, Perl, SQL, HTML, and JAVA and knowledge of mixed operating systems environments (e.g. UNIX, Windows NT, Sybase, Oracle etc.) is required.
Working knowledge of public domain bioinformatics data sources, public sequence databases, sequence assembly tools and gene expression analysis software is preferred.
Bioinformatics Analyst/Programmer
Job Description
Designs and develops software, databases, and interfaces for analyzing and manipulating genomic databases. Collaborates with Production to develop high throughput data processing and analysis capability, design and implement data queries, novel algorithms and/or visualization techniques. Maintains large-scale DNA databases and prepares data for utilization by other scientists. Monitors new data from public databases and cleans loaded data to satisfy quality control criteria. Works with the entire life science team to diagnose and fix issues with bioinformatics software. Provides direct technical and scientific customer support and helps guide, implement and maintain further improvements to Bioinformatics software.
Education/Experience
Requires an MS/PhD or equivalent experience in Molecular or Computational Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics/Statistics, Bioinformatics, or related field and 1-3 years' experience developing computational biology applications.
Fluency in at least one of the following: C/C++, Perl, SQL, HTML, and JAVA and a working knowledge of relational databases and system administration is preferred.
Familiarity with public sequence databases and standard sequence analysis tools is highly desirable.
Molecular Modeler
Job Description
Provides molecular modeling support for ongoing discovery research and applies computational techniques for the identification and optimization of hit/lead compounds. Other responsibilities include scientific leadership for the molecular modeling or computational design group, interaction with scientists of varied disciplines, new methods development, ligand design, pharmacophore development, library design and analysis, model development for virtual screening, and Quantitative Structural Activity Relationships (QSAR), protein structure and molecular simulations.
Education/Experience
Requires a PhD degree in chemistry, biochemistry, computational chemistry or a related field, 5+ years of industrial experience. Expertise in all aspects of molecular modeling of small molecules in rational drug design including QSAR and Structure based design, predictive Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME), and/or library design in a drug discovery setting is preferred.
Strong familiarity with principles of medicinal chemistry and knowledge of commercial modeling software packages, database searching, docking and scoring functions are also desirable. Systems administration knowledge and programming experience is a plus.
Facility Manager/Supervisor (Animal Sciences)
Job Description
Supervises all activities and staff of the animal facility. Sets and maintains a high standard of animal husbandry according to AALAC guidelines and optimizes animal handling techniques based on scientific requirements of animal projects and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). Ensures a smooth-running animal facility including stability of the lab environment, proper functioning of all equipment, appropriate levels of all supplies, and environmental monitoring (e.g. live sentinel). Responsible for processing requests for animals to be purchased, and for allocating space, time and resources for the company's animals. Hires, develops, manages, and appraises the animal facility staff.
Education/Experience
Requires a BS in biological sciences or equivalent and a minimum 5 years experience in animal husbandry. Previous supervisory experience (3+ years) in an animal facility (biotech/pharmaceutical company) is required and AALAS certification at a technologist level is preferred.
Veterinarian
Job Description
Responsible for diagnosing, treating and monitoring laboratory animals during the research stage of new drug therapies/discoveries. Other responsibilities include observing and documenting animal behavior, testing and vaccinating animals, performing autopsies, and working closely with scientists to analyze complications during new drug treatments/applications. Veterinarians may also consult on the breeding, feeding and maintenance of animals in a controlled laboratory environment.
Education/Experience
Requires Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree and a license to practice. Minimum of 2-3 years laboratory, veterinary and/or animal experience in a biotechnology or clinical research environment is required.
Lab Assistant
Job Description
Performs a variety of research/laboratory tasks and experiments under general supervision. Works on assignments that are moderately complex and where judgment is required in resolving problems and making routine recommendations. Maintains laboratory equipment and inventory levels of laboratory supplies. May make detailed observations, analyze data and interpret results, write experimental reports, summaries and protocols. May be responsible for limited troubleshooting and calibration of instruments and assisting in training of entry-level employees.
Education/Experience
Requires a high school diploma, preferably a biotechnology certificate, AS or equivalent experience with a scientific background. A minimum work experience of 1-2 years' related laboratory experience with a high school diploma, or 1-2 years with an AS.
Glasswasher
Job Description
Responsible for washing and drying glassware and distributing it to appropriate locations within the laboratories. Maintains glass washing facility and performs routine maintenance on glass washing equipment. May sterilize glassware and other laboratory items in an autoclave. Generally works on assignments that are semi-routine in nature, and requires ability to reorganize deviation from accepted practices.
Education/Experience
Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Should have a minimum of 0-2 years' laboratory experience.
