Senior Scientist, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME

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At Takeda, we are a forward-looking, world-class R&D organization that unlocks innovation and delivers transformative therapies to patients. By focusing R&D efforts on three therapeutic areas and other targeted investments, we push the boundaries of what is possible to bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide.
Objective / Purpose :
The Senior Scientist, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME is a scientist experienced in designing and implementing in vitro ADME assays at scale to support small- and large-molecule discovery programs to be a key member of a newly formed team that is designing and building Takeda’s high-throughput in vitro ADME capabilities as part of the Labs of Tomorrow initiative.

Reporting to the Director, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME, within the Discovery Automation and Robotics (DAR) department. This Senior Scientist will design, implement and operate assays based on a fundamental understanding of ADME principles, while driving technology innovation at the interface of ADME science, laboratory automation, and robotics. The High-Throughput In Vitro ADME team, delivers robust, fit for purpose ADME data to enable rapid, high-confidence decision-making in Design–Make–Test–Analyze (DMTA) cycles across the portfolio.
Accountabilities :

• Leadership & People Development:
  • Mentor scientists and research associates who are involved in the routine delivery of in vitro ADME assays.
  • Demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with a culture of scientific rigor, operational excellence, safety, and customer focus, supported by clear KPIs (e.g., cycle time, success rate, capacity utilization, cost-per-data point).
  • Bring a team first mentality to personal/scientific responsibility.
• High-Throughput ADME Operations:
  • Design, execute, and continuously improve assays as part of a broad high throughput in vitro ADME panel, to include but not be limited to
  • Physiochemical characterization
    • Kinetic solubility, Log D, etc.
  • Metabolic stability
    • Microsomes, Hepatocytes, S9 in Human and Preclinical species
    • Supersomes
  • Metabolic soft spot determination
  • Permeability
    • MDCK, Caco-2, PAMPA
  • Distribution/Free Fraction
    • Plasma Protein Binding, Whole Blood Partitioning, Tissue Binding
  • Reaction Phenotyping
    • CYPs, AO, Phase 2 enzymes
    • Efflux Transporters
  • Drug-Drug interactions
    • CYP inhibition and induction
    • Transporter inhibition
  • Safety liabilities
    • hERG, SynchroPatch
  • Build and adapt assays as required to meet the diversity of both small-molecule and large-molecule modalities. Maintaining a flexible mindset to ensure that assays meet the needs of the new modalities and platforms as the portfolio evolves.
  • Own assays (and associated data) that you have developed from validation through production
• Laboratory Automation, Robotics & Miniaturization:
  • Bring a laboratory automation and robotics mindset to the in vitro ADME space, in close alignment with the Director, High Throughput in Vitro ADME.
  • Be a champion for assay miniaturization to increase throughput/speed while maintaining assay quality and reducing costs.
  • Integrate liquid handlers, plate handlers, robotic arms, incubators, plate readers, mass spectrometers and scheduling software into end-to-end automated workflows.
  • Partner with internal automation/engineering and informatics teams to ensure seamless connectivity between instruments, LIMS/ELN, data pipelines, and analytical platforms.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Interface with DMPK, medicinal chemistry, biology, pharmacology, translational sciences, and data science. To understand how data from the assays you build will be interpreted and integrated into Discovery programs and AI learning.
  • In partnership with the Director, High Throughput in Vitro ADME modify/adjust assays to meet the needs of the portfolio.
  • Use commercial solutions when suitable/available but demonstrate a willingness to design and build assays/processes with internal partners to ensure an assay brings the needed data at scale as required.
• Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement:
  • Design and implement assays that ensure scientific quality, data integrity, and safety consistent with Takeda policies and relevant regulatory expectations.
  • Maintain KPIs for throughput, on-time delivery, reproducibility, and cost; apply data-driven methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, DoE) to drive continuous improvement.
  • Openly participate in investigations and CAPA implementation related to assay performance, automation reliability, or data issues.
• Education and Experience:
  • Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Analytical Chemistry or related field with 3+ years of relevant experience; MS with 9+; or BS with 11+ years
  • Expertise in in vitro ADME, including method development, validation, and deployment across core assay types.
  • Experience in an organization providing ADME services (e.g., CRO or internal ADME service group), with a strong service- and customer-oriented mindset.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain/own data quality in a time constrained environment.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience with laboratory automation and robotics, including implementation, troubleshooting, maintenance, coordinating service/support with vendors
  • Successful track record in miniaturizing ADME assays formats, including optimization for data quality, robustness, and throughput.
  • Experience supporting small-molecules (required) and large-molecule discovery programs preferred.
  • Familiarity with LIMS/ELN, instrument integration, and data analysis/visualization tools in a high-throughput setting.
  • Understanding of how in vitro ADME data is integrated into a Discovery Program along with PK/PD, mechanistic ADME and Drug Safety.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The position will be based in Cambridge, MA.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. 

For Location:

U.S. Base Salary Range:

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location. 

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