Jobs › AbbVie

Principal Research Scientist II

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

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

Apply at AbbVie

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 you set a new strategic direction for a scientific team. How did you get people on board?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead a function through change, not only manage day-to-day study work.

How do you handle a team member whose science is strong but who struggles to deliver reports on time?

What they are checking: Whether they coach honestly and manage performance, which this people leadership role requires.

Describe an operational improvement you led that made your team faster or more reliable.

What they are checking: Whether they drive functional excellence through process change, not just scientific output.

How do you build a succession plan for a specialized team where expertise takes years to develop?

What they are checking: Whether they think about long-term team capability, not just covering today's workload.

What would you do

A project team wants PK data in two weeks, but a well-designed study takes six. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can offer smart tradeoffs that support the pipeline without producing data no one can trust.

Two programs need your best PK scientist at the same time. How do you decide?

What they are checking: Whether they allocate scarce talent based on portfolio priorities and communicate the choice clearly.

A project team leader disagrees with your PK interpretation and wants to advance the compound. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they defend sound science respectfully while staying a trusted partner to project teams.

About the work

How would you design a non-clinical PK study to support first-in-human dose selection for a small molecule?

What they are checking: Whether they can connect study design choices to the decisions the data must support in development.

Walk me through how toxicokinetic data should be interpreted alongside tox findings when exposure does not rise in proportion to dose.

What they are checking: Whether they understand saturation, absorption limits and how TK changes the meaning of safety margins.

What makes a PK/TK data package ready for regulatory submission, and where do teams usually fall short?

What they are checking: Whether they know regulatory expectations for GLP data and the common gaps that slow filings.

How would you support a biologics or novel modality program whose PK behaves very differently from small molecules?

What they are checking: Whether they can extend PK expertise across modalities and therapeutic areas as the role requires.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at AbbVie from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose Statement As a recognized scientific leader in preclinical pharmacokinetics, provides scientific, operational, and people leadership for the US Pharmacokinetics Team within Quantitative, Translational and ADME Sciences (QTAS). Leads the development and execution of strategies that support discovery and development programs through high-quality pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic study design, analysis, reporting, and scientific consultation. Drives functional excellence through innovation, operational improvements, capability development, and talent growth while ensuring effective support of AbbVie's pipeline priorities. Major Responsibilities • Lead and develop the Pharmacokinetics Team, including performance management, coaching, recruitment, succession planning, and employee development. • Establish strategic direction and operational priorities for the Pharmacokinetics organization to support current and future portfolio needs. • Provide scientific leadership and oversight for non-clinical pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic study design, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. • Serve as a pharmacokinetics subject matter expert supporting project teams across therapeutic areas and stages of drug discovery and development. • Ensure delivery of high-quality PK/TK data packages, reports, and regulatory documentation supporting project progression and regulatory submissions. • Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on workflow optimization, automation, scalability, and continuous improvement of PK support activities. • Lead implementation of innovative technologies, data science approaches, visualization tools, and digital solutions that improve decision making and operational efficiency. • Develop and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships with Discovery Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, CMC, and Toxicology stakeholders. • Champion animal welfare, compliance, and best scientific practices associated with preclinical pharmacokinetics activities. • Represent the function to senior leadership and communicate priorities, resource requirements, risks, opportunities, and strategic recommendations. Required • Bachelor’s degree plus 16 years of experience, or master’s degree plus 14 years of experience, or PhD plus 8 years of experience in pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical sciences, DMPK, toxicology, or a related scientific discipline. • Typically, 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical industry experience supporting drug discovery and development programs. • Proven experience leading scientific teams and developing talent. • Strong understanding of non-clinical study design, PK/TK analysis, interpretation, and reporting. • Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills. Preferred • Demonstrated expertise in preclinical pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics. • Experience supporting regulatory submissions and cross-functional project teams. • Demonstrated success driving organizational change and operational improvement initiatives. • Experience implementing digital, automation, analytics, or data science solutions within a scientific organization. • Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives spanning multiple functions and therapeutic areas. • Track record of building high-performing teams and developing future leaders. 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

Apply at AbbVie

More principal research scientist roles