Principle Scientist

Principal Scientist, Tuberculosis Drug Discovery

Johnson & Johnsons Communicable Diseases (CD) unit is looking for a highly motivated and innovative scientist to lead our TB Drug Discovery team in Beerse, Belgium. CD has a longstanding commitment to addressing the unmet needs of underserved populations with a goal of bringing solutions to health challenges. This includes building external engagements and collaborations with public and private institutions across the world.

A priority of CD is to discover and develop novel antibiotics for tuberculosis and build on the success of bedaquiline, a ground-breaking drug developed by J&J for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death from a single bacterial pathogen and the number one contributor to AMR epidemic.

Job Description

The Principal Scientist will lead a diverse team of multi-disciplinary scientists responsible for developing, conducting and leading new in vitro assays and in vivo models to evaluate new anti-tuberculosis compounds, and compounds combinations. The Principal Scientist will also be tasked with identifying and implementing novel approaches to support our efforts in TB drug discovery. The successful candidate will also run exciting projects and collaboration, as well as drive the setup of new ones. All this is done in a team-oriented, result driven, international research environment that provides an excellent career opportunity for an enthstic and motivated scientist.

Job Responsibilities:

• Coordinates in vitro/in vivo activities of the CD TB Discovery team in support of all CD TB pre-portfolio, portfolio, and early development programs.
• Coordinates TB small molecule discovery program teams towards identification of new clinical candidates for TB. Progress of these programs are regularly communicated to senior J&J management.
• Initiate various pre-portfolio activities (evaluation of external assets, phenotypic screening etc.) for delivery of portfolio-entry-ready projects. These activities are conducted internally, or externally at academic collaborators or within consortia.
• Handle budgets and activities at external collaborations with the TB discovery programs, as well as actively seeking out and driving the implementation of new collaboration. This includes activities conducted at CROs and academic collaborators.
• Serve as the biology lead in the various consortia, as well as identify external funding opportunities with CD TB discovery activities.
• Leads all aspects of the scientific strategy and activities of the J&J TB Center for Global Health Discovery at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
• Team lead of a multidisciplinary biology team.

Qualification and attributes:

• PhD in relevant field, with a minimum of 6 years of meaningful experience in the field of TB (including post-doctoral studies).
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to run projects and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Shown experience in successful grant applications.
• Ability to handle sophisticated projects and to overcome delays and obstacles, excellent team leader and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in communicating project updates to internal and external partners.
• Experience working in and managing multi-partner consortia.
• Good publication record.
• Proficient in English.
• Proficient in MS Office and Graphpad Prism.
• Proven track record to work well in a quick paced, highly matrixed, interactive environment is vital.
• Experience in working with M. tuberculosis in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory environment would be an advantage.