Senior Scientist II, siRNA Therapeutics – Oncology

At AbbVie, we are dedicated to addressing the world’s most complex and serious diseases. Within the Biotherapeutics and Genetic Medicine (BGM) organization, the newly established siRNA team is building and advancing therapeutic programs from early discovery through development, applying rigorous biology, innovative experimental approaches, and data-driven decision-making to deliver differentiated RNA medicines.

AbbVie is seeking a highly talented and motivated Senior Scientist II to join our siRNA therapeutics team within BGM at the South San Francisco (ABA) site. The successful candidate will lead in vitro discovery biology efforts to support the development of innovative siRNA-based medicines for oncology. This individual will design and execute experiments, drive scientific innovation, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to advancing therapeutic candidates from early discovery through development candidate nomination for oncology programs. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in RNA interference (RNAi) biology, a strong track record in siRNA therapeutic discovery, and a passion for translating cutting-edge science into transformative medicines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute in vitro siRNA discovery and proof-of-concept activities, including target validation, assay development and optimization, siRNA screening, lead optimization, and mechanism-of-action studies to support active therapeutic programs for oncology.
• Develop, validate and execute robust siRNA-based in vitro screening funnels for hit-to-lead identification to support siRNA-based drug discovery projects (e.g. 96 well RNA isolation, qPCR, westerns, ELISA, flow cytometry, reporter assays, RNA-seq, microscopy and others).
• Identify and resolve key biological and technical pitfalls related to siRNA activity, delivery, stability, and on-target and off-target effects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners and external CROs, including chemistry, delivery, bioinformatics, and in vivo biology teams, to advance siRNA candidates through key discovery milestones.
• Work with oncology therapeutic area colleagues to support target selection and internal siRNA pipeline development.
• Design in vivo studies (PK/PD, biodistribution, and efficacy) to assess siRNA potency, specificity, durability, and mechanism.
• Maintain updated and well-organized ELNs and ensure high scientific rigor, reproducibility, and data integrity.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present work at scientific conferences.
• Proactively seek out new information in the literature and incorporate this into individual project(s) as well as the overall program.
• Generate new scientific proposals and lead those efforts.

• PhD, MS, or BS in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology or related field with typically 4-5+ (PhD), 10+ (MS), or 12+ (BS) years of relevant experience.
  • Postdoctoral or industry experience in RNA biology/therapeutics preferred.
• Strong understanding of RNAi biology and drug discovery processes with hands-on experience in siRNA therapeutic discovery is required, including leading in vitro siRNA studies that informed program go/no-go decisions and support development candidate nomination.
• Strong hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g. stem-loop RT-qPCR and RT-qPCR), including assay design, optimization, validation, and data interpretation for siRNA quantification and mRNA target knockdown.
• Extensive experience with mammalian cell culture and transfection techniques. Experience working with animal tissues would be a plus.
• Strong data analysis and critical thinking abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, multi-tasking and organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with a team.
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate scientific findings and project updates to project teams, senior leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Highly independent and productive in performing laboratory research or assay development, requiring only minimal direction from or interaction with supervisor.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience in siRNA therapeutics, siRNA sequence design and optimization, target site selection, chemical modifications, and evaluation of structure–activity relationships (SARs).
• Familiarity with tumor intrinsic biology and/or immune oncology. Experience working with tumor models would be a plus.
• Experience with extrahepatic oligonucleotide delivery technologies, particularly antibody–oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs), is highly desirable.
• Strong publication track record or IND-enabling contributions. 
• Ability to work in fast-paced, collaborative environment.

 

Why AbbVie? AbbVie offers a collaborative, science-focused environment where discovery scientists play a direct role in shaping therapeutic programs. You will have the opportunity to work alongside leading research scientists and cutting-edge siRNA medicines and contribute to advancing next generation therapies that make an impactful difference for patients.

How To Apply If you are passionate about advancing RNA therapeutics and possess extensive hands-on experience in siRNA therapeutic discovery, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume highlighting your direct contributions to siRNA programs.

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions 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 including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

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• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​
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• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive program. ​
• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive program. ​

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