Scientist, Early Formulation

 

Department

Protein Structure & Biochemistry, Vx Discovery Technology

 

Location

Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, MA, United States (on-site)

About GSK

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, focusing our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Position Summary:

The Scientist, Early Formulation will be a key member of the Early Formulation team in Cambridge, MA, developing fit-for-purpose vaccine formulations that support projects for preclinical studies and generating in vitro assessment insights that guide antigen design, lead selection, and optimization. This hands-on, laboratory-based role focuses on designing and executing formulation and stability studies, characterizing physicochemical properties, and generating in vitro and in vivo assessment data that inform antigen design, lead selection, and portfolio decision-making across multiple vaccine modalities.

Responsibilities:

• Design, prepare and test vaccine formulations at bench scale to support progression of key pipeline projects in Early Formulation and the broader Vaccine Discovery Technology projects.
• Support timely screening and comparison of different vaccine modalities (e.g., adjuvanted protein, mRNA-LNP, VLPs, polysaccharide vaccines) for in vitro and in vivo evaluations, contributing data that enables candidate ranking, selection and optimization.
• Build, maintain and operate high-throughput formulation and screening processes across multiple modalities, applying design–build–test–learn workflows to accelerate vaccine discovery and portfolio decision-making.
• Characterize physicochemical properties and relevant critical quality attributes using analytical methods such as particle size analysis, pH and viscosity measurement, single-particle measurements, chromatography and thermal analysis.
• Design and execute stability studies and compatibility assessments under fit-for-purpose formulation conditions, interpret data, and provide clear recommendations to project teams regarding candidate robustness and formulation risks. 
• Maintain accurate, high-quality laboratory records (electronic and/or paper notebooks), prepare study reports, and present data and scientific insights to project teams and stakeholders in a clear, structured manner.
• Conform to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) rules and regulations, maintaining the formulation laboratory space in an organized, safe and inspection-ready condition.
• Troubleshoot experiments, improve methods, and contribute to the development and refinement of standard operating procedures and standardized workflows that enhance reproducibility and throughput.
• Demonstrate strong ownership and accountability for delivery of data and materials to project milestones, working proactively with team members to keep tasks on track and resolve issues.
• Actively contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture, showing excellent interpersonal skills, a patient and approachable demeanor, and clear verbal and written communication.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS (+8 years), MS (+4 years) or PhD (+0 years) in pharmaceutical sciences, chemical engineering, biochemistry, formulation science or a closely related discipline.
• Laboratory experience preparing and evaluating formulations for small molecules or biologics, including experience with stability study design and data interpretation.
• Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC, particle sizing, pH and viscosity measurement, and thermal analysis; experience with additional techniques (e.g., DSF, single-particle measurements) is beneficial.
• Experience utilizing laboratory documentation practices and experience using electronic or paper laboratory notebooks, including preparation of clear study reports.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in formulation science, pharmaceutics, or a closely related discipline with direct experience in vaccine, biologics or protein- or mRNA-based discovery programs.
• Experience with biologics and mRNA formulations, virus-like particles (VLPs) and polysaccharide bioconjugates, including adjuvanted systems and sterile formulation development.
• Demonstrated strong sense of ownership and personal responsibility, with experience coordinating with team members to ensure tasks are on track and goals are met successfully.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Demonstrated strong sense of ownership and personal responsibility, with experience coordinating with team members to ensure tasks are on track and goals are met successfully.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Familiarity with in vitro high-throughput screening and analytics relevant to vaccine candidates and rapid lead ranking across modalities.
• Prior experience working in pharmaceutical or biotech industry environments, ideally in early-stage vaccine or biologics formulation and development.
• Proven ability to connect early formulation and stability assessment data to portfolio impact and strategic decision-making, helping guide antigen design, lead selection and candidate optimization.

#LI-GSK

 

Skills

Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Quality, Following Instructions, Interpersonal Communication, Lab Maintenance, Life Science, Matrix Leadership, Proper Documentation, Scientific Presentations, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing

 

 

• If you are based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, the annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges $89,925 to $149,875. The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Please visit  GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

If you require an accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at GSK, please contact the appropriate Recruitment Staff by emailing us at - [email protected]

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

Important notice to Employment businesses/ Agencies

GSK does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact GSK's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to GSK. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and GSK. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of GSK. GSK shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site.

Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK’s compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/