Lead/Senior Scientist

at  CEPI

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCE

• Essential: Advanced degree (PhD level) in life science, with a minimum of 10 years post-graduate experience.
• Desirable: GLP, GCP, GxP or regulatory training, such as Study Director training or experience
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to build trust with partners and manage a team of experts in a matrixed, international environment.
• Experience in non-clinical study design, study execution, data interpretation and reporting, with an understanding of all types of non-clinical studies and how these data fit into overall vaccine development, regulatory submissions and product licensure.
• Strong expertise and deep experience in clinical and/or non-clinical immunology, immunobridging and correlates of protection, mode of action and safety
• Strong expertise in preclinical and/or clinical assays, with knowledge of assay development, optimization and characterization and validation principles
• Knowledge of and interest in novel vaccine technologies, in silico modelling/machine learning and immunogen design also valuable
• Experience with Lassa virus, including preclinical models and assays, is highly desired. Experience with other CEPI priority pathogens and/or high containment facilities (BSL-3 or BSL-4) is desirable.
• Strong knowledge of vaccine platform technologies
• Demonstrable problem-solving abilities, supporting vaccine development partners with issues as they arise, and being agile in their support
• Experience in working in collaborative R&D projects, preferably across sectors (academic, private sector, public and private funders)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with emphasis on professional conduct, diplomacy, flexibility, and teamwork. Will need to be able to develop team cohesion in a remote environment.
• Strong communication skills, able to represent CEPI at international events and ensure the necessary flow of information across CEPI divisions and departments, CEPI program teams, and product development project teams.
• Experience with regulated (GLP, GCP, GxP) studies a plus

TRAVEL AND LOCATION REQUIREMENTS

• This position can be based in Norway/UK/US

ABOUT THE ROLE

We seek a Lead/Senior Scientist who has demonstrated expertise in preclinical and non-clinical aspects of vaccines and/or biologics product development. The successful candidate will support the advancement of CEPI’s portfolio of vaccine and/or biologics products, cross-cutting initiatives, and the attainment of CEPI’s broader and longer-term goals of medical countermeasure (MCM) delivery and access, preparedness and rapid response

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead enabling science projects that fall within the Laboratory Research and Innovations (LRI) Department remit (laboratory-based evidence generation; development of tools such as assays, reagents, and animal models) with a focus on support of the CEPI Lassa vaccine portfolio, serving as the LRI representative and Preclinical Lead for the Lassa Disease Program Team.
• Ensure strategic oversight, scientific excellence, successful delivery, and incorporation of the deliverables into applicable CEPI programs, including the Lassa Disease Program.
• Provide support to vaccines/biologics development projects as preclinical lead or subject matter expert/scientific support in multidisciplinary project teams. Responsibilities include advising on non-clinical plans relating to safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy, and reviewing relevant documents such as study protocols, study reports, and manuscripts. Facilitate use of LRI networks to perform efficacy testing of MCMs in preclinical challenge models when needed.
• Take the lead on, or support the development and launch of, CEPI Calls for Proposals, and serve as subject-matter expert for grant application review and for the due diligence process preceding potential awards.
• As part of a matrixed team, assist other groups in the LRI Department with enabling sciences projects for CEPI priority pathogens, with a primary focus on Lassa virus, and projects such as those focused on identifying immune correlates of protection.
• Pursue cross-departmental and cross-divisional connections to ensure alignment of LRI activities with the activities of the rest of the organization.
• Maintain an overview of institutional, divisional, and departmental strategy, and use this to prioritize relevant activities, and to make recommendations to CEPI leadership for new investments for gap-filling.
• Support CEPI and the LRI Department / R&D Division to develop concepts supporting the organization’s future priorities and help build the capacities to achieve CEPI strategic goals (including participation in and contribution to cross-functional / cross-departmental activities)
• Represent CEPI at international scientific conferences and in meetings with global organizations (e.g., WHO) and other key stakeholders