Associate / Senior Associate - Antibody Discovery

Our client is a young, innovative biotechnology company in the greater Zurich area, working in the engineered antibody space to identify and develop innovative medicines for oncology and for autoimmune disorders.

To strengthen the team, we are seeking a highly motivated Associate or Senior Associate to join the antibody discovery team. In this role, you will contribute to the identification, characterisation and optimisation of therapeutic binders using in vitro display technologies and cell-based expression systems. You will work closely with senior scientists to execute and optimise experiments across multiple stages of the discovery pipeline.

Tasks

• Perform in vitro display selections, including ribosome display and phage display, for antibody discovery.
• Conduct binder screening and characterisation using ELISA and biophysical methods such as BLI (e.g. Octet).
• Execute molecular biology workflows, including cloning, library preparation, and sequence analysis.
• Perform mammalian cell culture, transient transfection (e.g. HEK/CHO), and protein expression.
• Purify and assess recombinant proteins using standard techniques.
• Maintain accurate, detailed, and well-organised electronic lab notebooks in compliance with company standards.
• Analyse and interpret experimental data, and communicate findings clearly to the team.

Requirements

• BSc or MSc in relevant field with experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with display technologies (phage and/or ribosome display) is strongly preferred.
• Experience with ELISA and/or BLI for protein characterisation.
• Practical experience in molecular biology and cloning.
• Familiarity with mammalian cell culture and transient protein expression systems.
• Strong organisational skills with a commitment to high-quality data recording and reproducibility.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team.
• Familiarity with sequence analysis tools or basic data analysis workflows.
• Detail-oriented and precise with a strong sense of scientific rigor.
• Proactive, adaptable, and eager to learn new techniques.
• Strong communication skills in English and team-oriented mindset.

If this opportunity interests you, we look forward to receiving updated CV together with a cover letter expressing your motivation and interest in the position.