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Manager - Exploratory Analysis (Hybrid)

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Other

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time your analysis led to a go or no-go decision on a program.

What they are checking: Whether their statistics have actually driven an objective go or no-go decision, since this role exists to keep program choices honest.

Tell me about a time you worked independently with a research team and set the analysis plan yourself.

What they are checking: Whether they can act as an independent statistical lead for a research team, setting a sound plan without waiting for direction.

What would you do

A scientist wants to report a subgroup finding that came from exploring many cuts. What do you tell them?

What they are checking: Whether they will protect statistical integrity with a collaborator who wants a result, since a data-mined subgroup finding often fails to replicate.

How do you explain uncertainty to a clinician who wants a yes or no?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain uncertainty plainly without hiding behind jargon or overstating certainty, so clinicians make sound decisions with the evidence.

About the work

What's the difference between a prognostic and a predictive biomarker, and how would you test for each in a trial?

What they are checking: Whether they truly understand prognostic versus predictive biomarkers and treatment interaction tests, since confusing them leads to wrong patient selection decisions.

How would you find patient subgroups from high-dimensional biomarker data without fooling yourself?

What they are checking: Whether they guard against multiplicity and overfitting in high-dimensional data, because false subgroups can send a whole program in the wrong direction.

Walk me through how you'd analyze a pharmacodynamic biomarker in an early phase study.

What they are checking: Practical PD analysis, such as longitudinal models and dose response.

How would you help design a study for a companion diagnostic cutoff?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how assay performance and cutoff selection work together, because a poorly chosen cutoff can sink a companion diagnostic.

How do you make sure your analysis is reproducible and data integrity is protected?

What they are checking: Whether they build reproducible, traceable analyses, because in drug development a result nobody can recreate cannot support any decision.

Which tools do you use for multi-omics or high-dimensional data, and why?

What they are checking: Whether they have genuine hands-on skill with tools suited to multi-omics data and can explain their choices rather than listing software.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

The Manager - Exploratory Analysis provides statistical expertise to support the research and development organizations for drug discovery, target identification/verification, non-clinical and clinical biomarker exploration to characterize subgroups of patients or markers of disease progression and treatment response for precision medicine. The manager works independently with discovery researchers, translational scientists and clinicians in the design, collection, analysis and reporting of multi-dimensional biomarker data from Discovery to late stage clinical development to enable objective decision-making for each drug development program. Major Job Responsibilities: • If assigned, working independently as a point of contact for DIVES to collaborate with translational biomarker scientists and clinicians in the design, analysis and reporting of biomarker and assay studies in association with early and late phase clinical trials. The typical analysis includes pharmacodynamic biomarker analysis, safety biomarker analysis, prognostic and predictive biomarker identification and development, bioassay and companion diagnostic test development, patient subgroup identification based on biomarkers and clinical variables. • Accountable for data integrity of the responsible statistical analysis and deliverables. • Providing expertise to design, analysis and reporting of biomarker-based clinical trials or other scientific research studies. Independently developing biomarker section of clinical trial protocols or biomarker analysis plans. Implementing sound statistical methodology in scientific investigations. • Working independently as a point of contact for DIVES to collaborate with scientists in discovery and translational science units in the design, analysis and reporting of in vitro, in vivo pharmacology studies, and human clinical trials. Identify markers and signatures from internal/external omics/imaging and other biomarker data for target identification, mechanism of action, resistant mechanism, disease progression, patient selection and stratification for precision medicine. • Independently perform statistical analyses as per the biomarker analysis plan. Independently identifying issues arising in the study design; conducting and proposing scientifically sound approaches. Evaluating appropriateness of available software for planned analyses and assessing needs for potential development of novel statistical methodology. • Fully accountable for statistics/data presentation and inference. Collaborating in publication of scientific research. Ensuring that study results and conclusions are scientifically sound, clearly presented, and consistent with statistical analyses provided. Clearly explaining statistical concepts, enabling non-statisticians and biomarker collaborators to use existing tools and interpret results better. Minimum Qualifications: • MS (with 6+ years of experience) or PhD (with 2+ years of experience) in Statistics, Biostatistics, or a highly related field, with some applied consulting or research experience on topics related to pharmaceutical research, bioinformatics, target identification, biomarkers (highly preferred), and subgroup identification. • Experience with pharmaceutical, clinical trial and/or healthcare statistics Preferred Qualifications: • Experience working on discovery/pre-clinical studies • Experience in Clinical biomarker modeling and analysis • Experience with Machine Learning, AI and/or predictive modeling Other Required Skills: • High degree of technical competence and effective communication skills, both oral and written • Able to identify data or analytical issues, and assist with providing solutions by either applying own skills and knowledge or seeking help from others • Able to build strong relationship with peers and cross-functional partners to achieve higher performance. Highly motivated to drive innovation by raising the bar and challenging the status quo • Able to integrate high dimensional data from different sources. Familiar with overfitting and multiple testing control methods, such as cross-validation and random resampling techniques. Familiar with machine learning and predictive modeling methods. Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.​ AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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