Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology and… at IDEXX · Westbrook

Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology and Antibody Discovery

Location: Westbrook, ME

The Reagent Discovery group in Discovery Tech Futures, R&D, is looking for a motivated Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology and Antibody Discovery to join a fast-paced discovery team working at the intersection of molecular biology and diagnostics. The successful candidate will provide scientific leadership in the development of biological reagents, including antibody discovery and selection, vector design, guide RNA creation, cloning, and cDNA library development, and will define and drive the strategy behind those efforts. Outputs from this position support novel immunoassay reagent and format development in collaboration with downstream partners. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and collaborative environment.

Why This Role Matters

At IDEXX, developing high-quality biological reagents is foundational to advancing companion animal health diagnostics. The Reagent Discovery team is the critical bridge between biomarker discovery and immunoassay development. As a Senior Scientist, you will bring advanced expertise to move novel targets from sequence to validated reagent, shape the technical direction of the reagent pipeline, and contribute directly to new diagnostic tools for the veterinarians and pet owners we serve. We value scientific curiosity, rigor, and technical breadth, and this role offers the opportunity to lead complex problems through reagent development, analytical evaluation, and functional assessment.

In This Role, You Will:

• Lead the design and execution of molecular biology workflows for construct development, including primer design, PCR-based cloning, DNA assembly, and sequence verification.
• Develop and optimize recombinant expression constructs and strategies using mammalian, insect, or microbial systems to support antigen and reagent production.
• Define and drive biological reagent development strategies with a primary focus on antibody generation, including platform selection, screening, and hit confirmation.
• Direct protein and antibody characterization using biochemical and biophysical techniques including SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, analytical SEC, and binding kinetics (BLI or SPR).
• Develop and optimize workflows that increase throughput and reproducibility, including the implementation of laboratory automation where applicable.
• Evaluate and apply in silico tools and AI to design and generate antibody candidates, and integrate computational and experimental approaches.
• Partner with downstream immunoassay development teams to communicate reagent performance data, define acceptance criteria, and meet delivery milestones.
• Plan and prioritize project work, set technical goals, and provide scientific guidance, training, and mentorship to associate scientists and research associates.
• Present data and project progress to cross-functional teams and senior leadership through clear, concise presentations and written reports.
• Leverage published literature and external scientific networks to identify novel molecular biology, expression, and reagent development technologies for the Reagent Discovery pipeline, and contribute to intellectual property, publications, and conference presentations as appropriate.
• Document experiments and maintain accurate electronic records, and adhere to appropriate safety procedures and regulatory requirements.

What You Need to Succeed:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Protein Engineering, or a related life science discipline, with two or more years of relevant post-doctoral or industry experience is required.
• Strong hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques including primer design, PCR, restriction enzyme cloning, Gibson assembly, site-directed mutagenesis, and sequence analysis is a must have.
• Experience with recombinant protein expression in mammalian, insect, or microbial systems is required.
• Proficiency with standard protein characterization techniques (e.g., SDS-PAGE, analytical SEC, Western blot, ELISA) is required.
• Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze and interpret complex data, and troubleshoot independently is required.
• Record of scientific accomplishment, such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, or equivalent contributions is required.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills is required.
• Organizational skills and the ability to plan and prioritize work across multiple projects is required.
• Takes initiative and is accountable; detail-oriented and adaptable to shifting priorities is required.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively toward a unifying set of goals is required.
• Experience in biological reagent development, including antibodies, recombinant proteins, peptides, or related reagents is preferred.
• Experience with antibody discovery platforms such as hybridoma technology, phage display, recombinant expression, or single B-cell cloning is preferred.
• Familiarity or preferably experience with structural biology techniques and protein structure analysis tools (e.g. PyMOL) is preferred.
• Background in immunoassay development, in vitro diagnostics, or translational research is preferred.
• Working knowledge of binding assay technologies such as ELISA, BLI, or SPR is preferred.
• Familiarity with laboratory automation platforms (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan, Opentrons, or similar) is preferred.
• Experience mentoring junior scientists is preferred.

What you can expect from us:

• Salary range starting at $105,000 based on experience
• Opportunity for annual cash bonus
• Health / Dental / Vision Benefits Day-One
• 5% matching 401k
• Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more

If you’re looking for a role that’ll challenge you, offer a variety of work and learning, while helping an amazing industry, we’d love to hear from you!

Why IDEXX:

We’re proud of the work we do, because our work matters. An innovation leader in every industry we serve since 1983, our team members help pet owners worldwide keep their companion animals healthy and happy, ensure safe drinking water for billions, and help farmers protect livestock and poultry from disease.

We have customers in over 175 countries and a collaborative global workforce. Our culture embraces challenges and encourages learning and discovery. At IDEXX, you’ll be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement.

If meaningful work and a sense of purpose are at the top of your list, you’ll find it here. Let’s pursue what matters together.

About the job location:

If you’re thinking about relocating for this role, here are a few things to know about living in Maine (often called “Vacationland”). The Westbrook, ME area provides great access to active downtown areas and the outdoors, with the coast and numerous mountains and hiking trails nearby. You’ll also find a number of large companies like ours in the area, creating a vibrant work culture.

You can learn more on the Portland tourism website: https://www.visitportland.com/visit/resources/moving-to-maine/

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.

While we appreciate our staffing partners, we are unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

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