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Senior Scientist, I

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Oct 2, 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 technology transfer to an internal site or third-party manufacturer that ran into trouble. What happened and what did you do?

What they are checking: Real tech transfer experience and how problems are handled with partner sites.

Tell me about a time analytical development and your formulation team disagreed on what the data meant.

What they are checking: Working through scientific disagreement with key stakeholders.

How do you keep up with new biologics formulation and process technologies, and is there one you have pushed to bring into a team?

What they are checking: Initiative to drive innovation, not just follow it.

Tell me about a scientist you mentored or a study you led where others depended on your plan.

What they are checking: Leadership and the ability to guide others at a senior level.

What would you do

The CMC team wants a formulation locked in two months, but your stability data will not be complete. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Making a defensible risk-based recommendation under timeline pressure.

About the work

Walk me through how you would design a formulation screening study for a new monoclonal antibody headed to a high-concentration subcutaneous product.

What they are checking: Depth in biologics formulation design, excipient choice and stability-indicating readouts.

What degradation pathways worry you most for proteins and conjugates, and how do you detect and control each one?

What they are checking: Mechanistic understanding of aggregation, oxidation, deamidation and conjugate-specific risks.

How do you design a process robustness study for fill-finish, and how do you decide which parameters are critical?

What they are checking: Risk-based process characterization and use of DoE.

Genetic medicines like AAV or LNPs behave very differently from proteins in drug product. What would you need to learn first if you moved onto one of those programs?

What they are checking: Awareness of modality-specific challenges and honest framing of their own gaps.

What goes into choosing a product presentation, such as vial versus prefilled syringe, and who do you involve?

What they are checking: Integrated thinking across formulation, combination products and patient use.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Senior Scientist I to join the Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Process Development group located in North Chicago, IL. This team is part of the Process Development Science and Technology (PDS&T) group at AbbVie. In this role, the candidate will support process development of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and other conjugation modalities. The candidate will design and perform experiments related to ADC conjugation and purification unit operations, analyze experimental results and analytical dates from those experiments. This development work will support process characterization, technology transfer, and regulatory submissions for ADC programs in AbbVie’s pipeline. The candidate must possess a strong technical background, effective communication skills and an ability to work cross functionally with Analytical, Engineering, Manufacturing teams. Responsibilities: • Routinely demonstrate scientific initiative and creativity in research or development activities. • Highly autonomous and productive in performing laboratory research or method development, requiring only minimal direction from or interaction with supervisor. • Formulate conclusions and design follow-on experiments based on multidisciplinary data. • May initiate new areas of investigation that are scientifically meaningful, reliable, and can be incorporated directly into a research or development program. • A primary author of publications, presentations, regulatory documents and/or primary inventor of patents. • Demonstrates high proficiency across a wide range of relevant technologies. • Maintain a high level of productivity in the lab and/or pilot plant. • Understand and adhere to corporate standards regarding code of conduct, safety, appropriate handling of materials, controlled drug and radioactive compounds, GxP compliance, and animal care where applicable. • Direct mentorship of others. • Perform ADC conjugation and purification operations at reaction scales ranging from lab to pilot-scale. • Perform routine sample preparation and operation of HPLC-based analytical assays. • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 8 years of experience, PhD and no experience necessary. • Possess thorough theoretical and practical understanding of own scientific discipline. • Maintains their certifications as needed for assigned job tasks. • Demonstrates strong analytical skills and logical thought process. Preferred Qualifications: • Degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemical Engineering with hands-on expertise of laboratory experimental techniques. • Prior experience with ADC chemistry and HPLC-based analysis preferred but not required. ​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 short-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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