Jobs › AbbVie

Scientist I, Multi-Specifics Expression

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Science

Posted Jul 22, 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 an expression run failed. How did you find out why?

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot carefully across construct design, cells and process conditions.

Describe a time you worked with scientists in other groups to solve a problem with a protein.

What they are checking: Whether they collaborate well with discovery and characterization teams.

How do you keep up with new methods in protein expression and decide which to try?

What they are checking: Whether they stay current and adopt new methods with good judgment.

What would you do

A discovery team needs dozens of constructs expressed in two weeks while your group is already full. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize, communicate capacity honestly and find practical solutions.

Your yields for a molecule are too low to support the next study. How would you approach improving them?

What they are checking: Whether they can think through vector, cell line and culture options to increase yield.

About the work

What challenges come with expressing multi-specific antibodies in CHO cells compared with standard monoclonal antibodies?

What they are checking: Whether they understand chain mispairing, expression balance and product-related impurities in complex formats.

Walk me through how you would engineer a CHO cell line to improve expression of a difficult biologic.

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on cell line engineering experience and know the main levers.

How would you check that a multi-specific protein is correctly assembled after expression?

What they are checking: Whether they know characterization methods like mass spec and SEC to confirm the right product.

How have you used automation to make protein expression work faster or more consistent?

What they are checking: Whether they can bring automation into workflows, which this high-throughput group emphasizes.

How do you capture and organize expression data so it is useful later?

What they are checking: Whether they value data digitization and structured records for scalable workflows.

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.

Overview: AbbVie Biotherapeutics and Genetic Medicine is an integrated, global discovery organization responsible for biotherapeutics drug research across disease areas including immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. Our scope includes the discovery of innovative biologic medicines from the early exploratory stage and their support through clinical development. We are growing a world-class team of scientists and leaders who will drive the discovery and advancement of innovative biologic-based therapies. Careers in AbbVie Biotherapeutics and Genetic Medicine provide unique opportunities to work with cross-functional teams that drive exceptional science and deliver innovative medicines to patients. We are looking for diverse candidates with strong scientific and leadership experience to join the team and can offer exciting and rewarding career opportunities for these candidates. The Biotherapeutics Production group at AbbVie is seeking an experienced protein expression scientist to join a fast paced, high throughput, large scale mammalian expression group. This role will focus on CHO cell line engineering biologics, protein expression, and characterization of complex biotherapeutics, including multi-specific, while incorporating modern capabilities in automation and data digitization to enable efficient and scalable workflows. The Biotherapeutics mammalian expression group supports research scale (1 to 200L) expression of biologics in support of AbbVie’s worldwide drug discovery efforts. Key Responsibilities: • Expression of novel multi-specific biologics formats to support therapeutic area drug discovery projects. • Generation and screening of stable CHO cell lines with optimized attributes (i.e. titer, monomer, chain-pairing) using 2 or more vectors. • Determine optimal chain ratio for 3- and 4-chain molecules in CHO cells using multiple selection strategies and process optimization. • Process development and optimization for batch and fed-batch bioreactor and shake flask expressions of stable CHO cell lines expressing complex multi-chain molecules. • Characterization of stable CHO line copy number and mRNA transcript levels using ddPCR and related molecular tools. • Apply targeted integration technologies using screening workflows, including FACS-based single-cell sorting to generate mini pools. • Implement and leverage automation platforms and high-throughput workflows to increase efficiency. • Contribute to data digitization efforts, including electronic data capture, analysis, and reporting. • Troubleshoot challenges related to expression, stability, glycosylation, aggregation, and chain pairing. • Purification and biophysical characterization of analytical scale expression samples, using analytical HPLC to evaluate titer, monomer, and chain pairing efficiency. • Work independently on the design, execution, and interpretation of experimental results. • Analyze, document, and report data concisely and rigorously. • Handling stable CHO pools and cell lines including thaw, culture, expression and cryopreservation. Qualifications: *Position will be hired based on level of experience and education • Bachelors or Master’s in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or related field with typically 5+ (BS) or 2+ (MS) years of experience. • Hands-on experience with cell culture and expression of monoclonal antibodies, bi-specifics and multi-specifics in CHO cells lines including thaw, culture, expression and cryopreservation. • Prior experience in generation of stable CHO cell lines expressing complex multi-specific molecules. • Prior experience in process development, process optimization, and automation. • Experience with analytical characterization of multi-specifics desirable. • Experience with targeted integration, FACS, and ddPCR desirable. • Demonstrated proficiency in vector design is desirable. • Prior experience in mammalian expression using Wave bioreactors desirable. • Demonstrated proficiency in overcoming problems (i.e. poor chain pairing, low expression, aggregation, glycosylation) with challenging therapeutic multi-specific proteins desirable. 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 roleat the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors 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 short-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount isearned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that areallocable 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 absolutediscretion, 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