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This position has closed. AbbVie removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 25, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Senior Scientist, Toxicology II

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Aug 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 22, 2026

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

You would develop and optimize new methods and technologies. Tell me about a method you brought into use.

What they are checking: Concrete methodological contribution rather than running standard studies.

The posting describes you as highly autonomous with minimal direction. How do you set your own scientific priorities?

What they are checking: Self-direction, stated explicitly as an expectation.

You would directly mentor others. What do scientists new to toxicology most often misjudge?

What they are checking: Depth visible through what they teach.

This is a level two senior scientist role at North Chicago covering laboratory and pilot plant work, with corporate standards on controlled and radioactive materials. What would you want to know about the portfolio you would support?

What they are checking: That they ask what programs they would work on.

What would you do

A study produces a finding that would delay a program. How do you communicate it?

What they are checking: Delivering unwelcome science to a project team clearly and early.

You would design follow-on experiments based on what you find. How do you decide when you have enough to stop investigating?

What they are checking: Where they draw the line, which controls both cost and animal use.

About the work

This role directs in vivo toxicology studies. How do you design a study so that a negative result is genuinely informative?

What they are checking: Study design rigor, which determines whether the work answers anything.

You would formulate conclusions from multidisciplinary data. Walk me through reconciling a finding that the pathology and the clinical chemistry disagree about.

What they are checking: Integrating evidence across toxicology disciplines.

How do you decide whether a finding in an animal study is likely to be relevant to humans?

What they are checking: Translational judgment, the central question in this field.

You would be a primary author of regulatory documents. How does writing a toxicology summary for a regulator differ from writing for a journal?

What they are checking: Range across the two audiences the posting names.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Conceive and implement novel experimental approaches to answer scientific questions. Investigate, identify, develop, and optimize new methods and techniques. Contribute to project science in area of expertise. Develop productive collaborations and communications with other groups across science disciplines. Responsibilities • Study direction of in vivo toxicology studies. • 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 • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, PhD and 3+ years of experience. • Possess thorough theoretical and practical understanding of own scientific discipline. 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