Scientist II

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist II to join our Biologics Drug Product Development team located in Lake County, IL. This is an onsite, 1-year contract position with a possibility of extension. The successful candidate will support early-stage assessment of candidates from the Discovery pipeline and design and develop stable drug product formulations for biologics used in clinical trials. You will work closely with a global team of scientists from multiple functional areas including Discovery, Analytical, and Process R&D.

Responsibilities

• Support the biologics characterization and stability assessment activities, including candidate screening and selection for clinical studies and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, bispecifics, and fusion proteins.
• Execute studies evaluating the stability (chemical and physical) of biologics against various solution conditions (pH, ionic strength, temperature, light, etc.) and physical stresses from manufacturing processes (freeze-thaw, mixing, filtration, filling, and lyophilization).
• Screen excipients (buffers, stabilizers, surfactants) to develop robust formulations for frozen, refrigerated, liquid, and lyophilized dosage forms.
• Prepare concise and sound scientific presentations of experimental results to management and assist in authoring detailed scientific technical reports.
• Stay current with the scientific literature and support new scientific initiatives.

• BS or MS in a scientific field with 4 years (BS) or 2 years (MS) of relevant experience.
• Extensive hands-on expertise using analytical methods for chemical and structural characterization of biologics (e.g., HPLC, UPLC, capillary electrophoresis, particle analysis, and other biophysical techniques such as UV-vis, DLS, DSC) for protein characterization.
• Scientific understanding of the structure and function of monoclonal antibodies, antibody constructs/conjugates, bispecifics, and fusion proteins, including their modes of degradation and stabilization.
• Strong laboratory skills focused on formulation development for monoclonal antibodies and antibody constructs/conjugates, including standard excipient selection, functional excipients, and high-throughput assays.
• Solid understanding of various unit operations of aseptic manufacturing such as bulk freeze-thaw, compounding/mixing, filtration, filling, and lyophilization for liquid and lyophilized NBEs.

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functionally with partners outside of the team to enable higher performance.
• Excellent oral communication skills in a scientific setting as well as sound technical writing and documentation competencies.
• Ability to work independently, respond to changing priorities, and handle short lead times for multiple tasks.
• Identifies problems and works toward solutions.
• 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 innovation to reality.

This position is based onsite in Lake County, IL. The role involves working in a laboratory setting with state-of-the-art formulation and analytical technologies. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with a global team of scientists across different functional areas. The work environment is dynamic, and the role requires flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing priorities and short lead times for multiple tasks.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in North Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 13, 2025.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email ... for other accommodation options.