Scientist R&D Molecular Design (m/f/d)
Job ID: 61464 Location:
Heidelberg, DE
Job Level: Professionals Job Category: Research and Development Employment Type: Permanent position Career Level:
Become part of a vital chain and contribute to our common goal of making people’s lives better. Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing medicines sourced from human plasma and human cell lines. We are a privately-owned company, where the warmth of family meets the scale of a global organisation.
Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals GmbH with more than 200 employees is a subsidiary of the Octapharma group founded in 1997 and successfully expanding. Our core business is the development of recombinant proteins produced in human cell lines for therapeutic use in humans. We strive for effective treatments with an improved tolerability and convenience for our patients.
Join us in shaping our vision to provide new health solutions advancing human life.
We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Scientist (m/f/d) to join the Molecular Design unit in the Research & Development Department at Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals. The successful applicant will take on a multifaceted role in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team focusing on biologics drug discovery in the fields of Immunology and Hematology. The scientist will contribute to the identification and optimization of therapeutic candidates by leveraging advanced phage display technologies and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows.
Key activities will include designing and constructing display libraries, performing selection, integrating NGS for diversity analysis, conducting literature-based exploration of target molecule biology, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive innovative solutions and ensure scientific excellence throughout the discovery process.
Your Main Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Design and construct phage display libraries (antibody fragments, peptides, or alternative scaffolds) for therapeutic discovery campaigns
2. Perform selection and screening of phage libraries using biopanning and enrichment strategies
3. Integrate Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows for library quality control, diversity assessment, and hit identification
4. Analyze sequencing and experimental data to monitor enrichment and guide candidate optimization
5. Develop and optimize directed evolution strategies to improve affinity, stability, and developability
6. Collaborate closely with protein engineering, computational biology, and project teams; coordinate external lead discovery activities
7. Prepare scientific reports and documentation; present findings in project and departmental meetings
8. Stay informed about the latest scientific developments and apply relevant insights to ongoing projects
Your Expertise and Ideal Skill Set
9. Ph.D. (preferred) in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, or related field or M.Sc. with at least 3 years relevant professional experience
10. Hands-on experience with phage display platforms and antibody/peptide selection techniques
11. Strong knowledge of library design and construction, molecular cloning, and expression systems (bacterial, yeast, mammalian)
12. Proficiency in NGS workflows for diversity analysis and hit tracking, familiarity with bioinformatics tools for sequence analysis
13. Excellent scientific research, data analysis, and interpretation skills
14. Excellent communication skills in English; German knowledge is a plus
15. Strong problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and capacity to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Additional valued Qualifications
16. Understanding of antibody structure-function relationships and engineering strategies
17. Experience with automation and high-throughput screening
18. Programming or scripting experience for data analysis
19. Familiarity with other display technologies (e.g., yeast, mammalian)
Thrive with us
20. A permanent position in full-time (40 hrs./week) in a dynamically growing company
21. A modern, "state of the art" working environment
22. Flexible working hours
23. Regular opportunities for further training
24. 30 days vacation
25. Own company restaurant with subsidies
26. Free drinks such as coffee, tea and water
27. Job ticket or parking space for bicycle or car
28. An international team in an international corporate environment
29. A collegial environment with many opportunities for activities
It´s in our blood
We live diversity and stand for equal opportunities as an employer! We therefore look forward to receiving your application - regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation, and religion.
Do you have any questions? Then get in touch with your contact person.
Mrs. Dorothee Schaupp
Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals GmbH
Im Neuenheimer Feld 590, 69120 Heidelberg
Tel: +49 (0)6221 – 546
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About Octapharma
Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines. We employ more than 11,000 people worldwide to support the treatment of patients in 120 countries with products across three therapeutic areas: Immunotherapy, Haematology and Critical Care. With seven R&D sites and five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Austria, France, Germany, and Sweden, Octapharma also operates over 195 plasma donation centres across Europe and the US. With four decades of experience, we are committed to advancing patient care worldwide.