Principal Scientist In vitro, Oncology Research at Perceptive

About Perceptive

Our mission is to shape the future of clinical research. With decades of experience and the brightest minds in the industry, we help the global biopharmaceutical industry bring new, advanced medical treatments to market, faster.

We seek to change the world, and with the support of our teams across the globe, we flourish together. At Perceptive, we are one team. We learn, grow and win together.

Are you ready to help change the world?

Apart from job satisfaction, we can offer you:

HEALTH:
- Medical, Dental and Vision benefits for you and your family, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

YOURSELF:
- Paid time off policy including holidays and sick time
- Internal growth and development programs & trainings

WEALTH:
401(k) program, life & accident insurance and disability insurance

About the role

Job Purpose

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Principal Scientist to join our Delivery team for the Discovery business. This position plays a critical role in project delivery for sponsors, understanding their needs, designing and executing studies, and leading in vitro experiments for both external and internal projects.

Candidates should possess deep expertise in oncology research, particularly in cell culture (cancer cell lines, PDX lines, and 3D cell culture), as well as proficiency in in vitro and ex vivo cell-based and phenotypic assays, analytical testing, and characterization of cell lines and tissues. The Principal Scientist will set high standards for in vitro work, introduce best practices, and mentor junior staff, contributing to overall team leadership.

Responsibilities include ensuring effective delivery of sponsor projects, maintaining high-quality research standards, and timely communication of results.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Provide vital oncology scientific expertise to sponsors and assist with designing client projects and studies for the Perceptive Discovery/ Preclinical team.
• Clarify deliverables and coordinate with other lab groups (such as chemistry, in vivo, imaging) to plan and schedule in vitro experiments.
• Work closely with study directors, project managers, and QC specialists.
• Mentor and guide junior scientists with technical expertise.
• Lead report writing for the in vitro portions of studies and assist with final deliverables to sponsors.

Study Support & Execution

• Participate in study design and protocol review with study directors and cross-functional teams.
• Maintain and culture cancer cell lines; characterize and validate cancer cell models.
• Develop cell-based and phenotypic assays using cancer cell lines, PDX lines, and PDXO models.
• Establish patient-derived materials for PDX and PDXO models as needed.
• Lead analytical testing, including DNA, RNA, and protein characterization for CDX, PDX, and PDXO models.

Scientific Communication & Process Improvement

• Present study data to internal teams and sponsors.
• Prepare reports, slide decks, and summaries for senior leadership.
• Monitor and report on KPIs such as study throughput, data quality, and team performance.
• Support regulatory and QA/QC inspections, ensuring team preparedness and accurate documentation.

Required Functional Competencies

• Expert knowledge of cancer cell biology and oncology in pharmaceutical research.
• Skilled in standard in vitro techniques, including cell culture, cell line characterization, and DNA, RNA, protein analysis.
• Direct experience in a preclinical drug discovery setting.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Familiarity with various study-related programs and software.
• Strong written and oral communication abilities.
• Occasional weekend and after-hours work may be required.

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• Advanced degree in biology, pharmacology, or related field, with at least 10 years of relevant drug discovery or development experience.
• Experience in oncology or radiopharmaceutical therapy is a plus.
• Proven track record managing early-stage oncology drug discovery projects.
• Excellent multitasking, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Come as you are.
We're proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, colour, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.