Principal Scientist/Head of Antibody Discovery

0 Skip to Content Open Menu Close Menu Open Menu Close Menu Principal Scientist/Head of Antibody DiscoveryWork for an Organization that brings innovative therapies to patients worldwide.VectorY harnesses the therapeutic power of antibodies and AAV-based delivery methods to create durable treatments for neurodegenerative diseases with significant unmet medical needs.Founded in August 2020, and based in the Amsterdam Science Park, VectorY is a fully integrated precision medicines company focused on the development of innovative vectorized antibody therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Huntington’s disease.Short description of the Discovery departmentThe Discovery Team operates within the Research Department, collaborating closely with the preclinical Translational Group to underpin VectorY’s pipelines. Our responsibilities include designing innovative intrabody candidates and assessing their efficacy in a toolbox of in vitro preclinical models, with the goal of identifying and progressing promising agents toward clinical development.Job descriptionWe are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Scientist, Head of Antibody Discovery to lead and shape our antibody and intrabody discovery efforts. This role is a unique opportunity to drive the scientific strategy, build and mentor a high- performing team, and advance a cutting-edge pipeline of antibody-based therapeutics targeting neurodegenerative diseases.As a key member of the Discovery team, you will define and execute the antibody discovery strategy across multiple programs, ensuring scientific excellence, innovation, and timely delivery of high-quality candidates into development.Main responsibilities:Define and drive the antibody/intrabody discovery strategy aligned with company pipeline goalsLead target-to-lead activities, including hit identification, screening, and optimizationEstablish and continuously improve discovery platforms (e.g., display technologies, screening assays, intracellular antibody approaches)Integrate advanced technologies (e.g., AI-guided design, high-throughput screening, single-cell approaches)Provide scientific oversight across multiple preclinical programsDrive data-driven decision-making and ensure high scientific rigorBuild, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary antibody discovery teamFoster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaborationSet clear priorities, goals, and performance expectationsAttract, develop, and retain top scientific talentDrive external collaborations (CROs, academic partners, technology providers) Continuously evaluate emerging technologies to maintain competitive advantageContribute to external scientific visibility (publications, conferences, partnerships)Support business development activities and due diligence effortsSkills and Qualifications:PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related field10+ years of experience in antibody discovery and engineering (biotech/pharma preferred)Protein/antibody engineering essential; structural biology and computational design strongly preferredProven track record of delivering antibody candidates from discovery to developmentDeep expertise in one or more discovery platforms (Phage/yeast/mammalian display, B cell screening, single-cell technologies)Deep expertise in antibody/VHH developability and biophysical characterisation, including stability, aggregation, and expression, for...