Senior Research Associate, Genomics at Genmab

At Genmab, we’re committed to building extra[not]ordinary futures together, by developing antibody products and pioneering, knock-your-socks-off therapies that change the lives of patients and the future of cancer treatment and serious diseases. From our people who are caring, candid, and impact-driven to our business, which is innovative and rooted in science, we believe that being proudly unique, determined to be our best, and authentic is essential to fulfilling our purpose.

Role

Genmab is seeking a highly motivated Senior Research Associate to join the Clinical Genomics laboratory in the Precision Medicine department, located in Princeton, NJ. The Precision Medicine team works in concert to combine flow cytometry, immune function assays, RNA profiling, immunogenomics and spatial genomics to provide a deep phenotype of patients participating in Genmab trials. The applicant should have in-depth knowledge of immunology, cancer biology and significant experience with next-generation sequencing on Illumina platforms.

Responsibilities

This role will be focused on building capabilities for liquid biopsy using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to support analysis of patients from clinical trials. We are seeking someone familiar with handling human blood plasma, extracting DNA/RNA, assessing quality of nucleic acids, preparing DNA libraries and sequencing on the Illumina platform. A major goal will be to automate the method using in-house Beckman i7/i5 liquid handlers.

These skills will be applied to analyzing clinical trial samples from various cancer indications monthly and integrating the data with other biomarkers collected during the trial. Core responsibilities will also include performing assay validations, periodic quality assessments and carefully documenting assays using our in-house digital systems (LIMS/ELN).  

Cross-team collaboration with the clinical trial operations team for sample management/reporting and the data science group will be needed to ensure assays are accurate and delivered in time to inform trial decisions. The resulting integrated dataset will be used to identify pharmacodynamic effects and early evidence of response to investigational drugs. These studies will help advance the development of Genmab therapeutics for cancers with poor outcomes.

Requirements:

• BS or MS in biology, chemistry or related field.

• 5+ years of relevant experience in Genomics on Illumina platforms (NextSeq / NovaSeq).

• Experience in ctDNA assays with one of the following: Illumina TruSight Oncology (TSO500), Roche Avenio Targeted ctDNA, Qiagen QiaSeq or other gene panel methods.

• Proficiency in DNA extraction using laboratory automation (KingFisher Apex, Beckman i7/i5)

• Enjoys a fast-paced work environment, bringing a proactive mentality and patient focus to the position.

• Experience working with human primary samples in a GLP/GCP/CLIA regulated environment highly desirable (pharmaceutical/biotech experience a plus).

• Experience with basic molecular biology technologies (PCR/RT-PCR) as well as nucleic acid analysis techniques (Agilent Bioanalyzer, TapeStation, Nanodrop, Qubit, EnVision).

• Knowledge of basic bioinformatics desired: understanding how to QC NGS sequencing runs and interpret gene mutation data. In house we use R, but experience with any programming language would be helpful.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, within Genmab and with external partners/collaborators

• Ability to independently interpret, analyze, and troubleshoot performed experiments to effectively organize and present data (e.g. Tibco Spotfire, Tableau, R ggplot) for project working groups, posters and manuscripts.

For US based candidates, the proposed salary band for this position is as follows:

$76,500.00---$127,500.00

The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Also, certain positions are eligible for additional forms of compensation, such as bonuses.

About You

• You are passionate about our purpose and genuinely care about our mission to transform the lives of patients through innovative cancer treatment
• You bring rigor and excellence to all that you do. You are a fierce believer in our rooted-in-science approach to problem-solving
• You are a generous collaborator who can work in teams with diverse backgrounds
• You are determined to do and be your best and take pride in enabling the best work of others on the team
• You are not afraid to grapple with the unknown and be innovative
• You have experience working in a fast-growing, dynamic company (or a strong desire to)
• You work hard and are not afraid to have a little fun while you do so

Locations

Genmab leverages the effectiveness of an agile working environment, when possible, for the betterment of employee work-life balance. Our offices are designed as open, community-based spaces that work to connect employees while being immersed in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Whether you’re in one of our collaboratively designed office spaces or working remotely, we thrive on connecting with each other to innovate.

About Genmab

Genmab is an international biotechnology company with a core purpose guiding its unstoppable team to strive towards improving the lives of patients through innovative and differentiated antibody therapeutics. For more than 20 years, its passionate, innovative and collaborative team has invented next-generation antibody technology platforms and leveraged translational research and data sciences, which has resulted in a proprietary pipeline including bispecific T-cell engagers, next-generation immune checkpoint modulators, effector function enhanced antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates. To help develop and deliver novel antibody therapies to patients, Genmab has formed 20+ strategic partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. By 2030, Genmab’s vision is to transform the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases with Knock-Your-Socks-Off (KYSO™) antibody medicines.

Established in 1999, Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with locations in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. and Tokyo, Japan. 

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

We are committed to fostering workplace diversity at all levels of the company and we believe it is essential for our continued success. No applicant shall be discriminated against or treated unfairly because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Learn more about our commitments on our website. 

Genmab is committed to protecting your personal data and privacy. Please see our privacy policy for handling your data in connection with your application on our website Job Applicant Privacy Notice (genmab.com).

Please note that if you are applying for a position in the Netherlands, Genmab’s policy for all permanently budgeted hires in NL is initially to offer a fixed-term employment contract for a year, if the employee performs well and if the business conditions do not change, renewal for an indefinite term may be considered after the fixed-term employment contract.