Advisor - Protein Engineering and CAR Design

Role Summary

Advisor - Protein Engineering and CAR Design at Lilly. Lead design, engineering, and optimization of protein therapeutics and Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) to improve function, stability, and developability. Collaborate across cross-functional teams to advance biotherapeutics from concept to execution and mentor junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Design, engineer, and optimize novel Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) using structure-guided and experimental approaches to improve function, potency, time-action, stability, and immunogenicity.
• Apply protein structure‚Äìfunction knowledge and structure‚Äìactivity relationships to guide engineering efforts.
• Lead independent research projects from concept to execution, analyze results, draw conclusions, and identify new strategies for biotherapeutics design.
• Troubleshoot complex protein engineering challenges and develop innovative solutions.
• Advance core capabilities in antibody and protein engineering and contribute to new platform technologies.
• Serve as a protein engineering lead on cross-functional project teams with computational biology, development, manufacturing, and translational teams.
• Present findings at internal meetings and contribute to scientific publications and regulatory documents as appropriate.
• Mentor junior scientists and research associates, supporting their technical development and career growth.
• Stay current with emerging scientific trends and the competitive landscape in biologics discovery.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in protein engineering, protein biochemistry, structural biology, protein biophysics, molecular biology, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of postdoctoral experience in CAR-T technologies.
• Strong foundation in protein structure and function with success in rational design and engineering for affinity, function, or stability.
• Proficiency in computational tools for structure modeling and analysis (e.g., Rosetta, Schr√∂dinger, Chimera, PyMOL, MOE, AlphaFold).
• Hands-on experience in molecular cloning and protein engineering.

Additional Preferences

• Postdoctoral or industry experience in protein engineering or structural biology.
• Basic proficiency in Python and/or R for data analysis and workflow automation.
• Proven scientific productivity (first-author publications, patents, or conference presentations).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication and collaborative mindset.
• Comprehensive knowledge in protein sciences, structural biology, protein-protein interactions, and SAR.
• Experience with library design and screening (e.g., phage or yeast display).
• Understanding of antibody generation and biologics drug discovery.
• Exposure to AI or ML approaches in protein design is a plus.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; desire to continue learning.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment and collaborate across geographies.
• Proficiency with scientific software (e.g., Spotfire, JMP) and Microsoft Office.