Scientist - Target Discovery & Validation – Induced Proximity Platform (IPP)

Role Summary

Amgen is seeking a passionate and innovative Scientist to join the Induced Proximity Platform team in Thousand Oaks, CA. This role is at the frontier of discovery biology, leveraging induced proximity technologies to uncover novel therapeutic targets across Amgen’s key therapeutic areas including Oncology, Inflammation, and Cardiometabolic diseases. The successful candidate will bring expertise in cell surface target identification and validation, as well as target functionalization toward the development of multispecific medicines. You will play a key role in driving innovation, developing technologies, and integrating multi-omics approaches to advance Amgen’s discovery pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and execute complex experimental workflows to profile and validate cell surface proteins.
• Support target functionalization efforts toward developing multispecific antibody therapeutics, and perform efficacy, mechanism of action (MoA) and drug response studies for these therapeutics.
• Lead and support cell surface-based target discovery and validation projects using in vitro models (cell lines, primary cells, tissues, etc.).
• Develop approaches to validate proximity at the membrane using techniques including proximity ligation assays (PLA), Alphascreen/AlphaLISA and co-immunoprecipitation assays.
• Develop high throughput copy number analysis and receptor quantification assays using flow cytometry.
• Apply proximity labeling, cell surface enrichment, and related proteomics efforts for target validation and nomination studies.
• Support target validation using tag-based approaches and cell line engineering.
• Use cutting-edge software tools and collaborate with bioinformatics to analyze and interpret target discovery proteomics datasets.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to drive integrated target discovery, validation and functionalization efforts.
• Present findings internally and externally through team meetings, conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Maintain detailed electronic lab notebooks and experimental records.

Qualifications

• Required: Doctorate degree
• Required: Master’s degree with 2 years of relevant scientific experience
• Required: Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of relevant scientific experience
• Preferred: Expertise in proximity labeling proteomics platforms and target validation using flow cytometry, biochemical and imaging-based techniques.
• Preferred: Expertise in cellular proximity-based assays like PLA and Alphascreen/AlphaLISA technology.
• Preferred: Experience in cell line generation and overexpression systems (e.g., lentiviral delivery) and functional validation of targets using cell-based assays.
• Preferred: Experience working with large molecule therapeutics or hybrid modalities such as bispecific antibodies, T-cell engagers, or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
• Preferred: Familiarity with high-throughput automation platforms (e.g., Agilent Bravo), high-content imaging platforms and analysis software.
• Preferred: Track record of scientific innovation as demonstrated by publications, patents, and/or conference presentations.
• Preferred: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in fast-paced, multidisciplinary teams.
• Preferred: Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills.