Upstream Process Development, Scientist / Senior Scientist at Zoetis

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Biotechnology, Animal HealthIndustries

Requirements

Strong upstream bioprocess foundation: cell culture and bioreactor operation (fed-batch, perfusion)
Scale-up/scale-down fluency and mass transfer fundamentals
DoE and MVDA literacy; experience with statistical tools a plus
CFD literacy with applied impact; hands-on experience a plus
Familiarity with scientific computing and data analysis tools and languages; capacity to interpret and adopt quickly
Exposure to mechanistic/kinetic modeling (e.g., Monod growth kinetics) and practical ML
Clear, first-principles reasoning; can explain assumptions and design validation experiments
Success bridging bench science, process engineering, and data science; strong communication and organization
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Chemical/Biological/Biomedical Engineering, or related field
BS and 4-7+ years industry experience, or MS and 1-3+ years industry experience, or PhD with relevant research and/or 0–3+ years industry experience

Responsibilities

Design, run, and interpret mammalian cell culture experiments in shake flasks and bioreactors for monoclonal antibodies and proteins
Apply DoE, statistical models, and scale-up principles to optimize processes
Design, execute, and translate CFD modeling into actionable scaling and control strategies
Champion multivariate analyses and modeling (e.g., PCA, time-series analytics), and explore mechanistic models and hybrid/ML approaches where they add value
Leverage digital tools and data systems to improve process understanding and decision-making
Collaborate across upstream, downstream, formulation, and analytical teams
Document work in electronic lab notebooks and author high-quality technical reports
Support tech transfers and regulatory filings with clear, traceable documentation
Drive innovation by evaluating new bioprocess technologies and modeling approaches to improve workflows

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

mammalian cell culturebioreactorsfed-batchperfusionDoEMVDACFDPCAscale-upstatistical modelingtime-series analyticsmechanistic modelsML

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What qualifications and experience are required for this role?

Candidates need a BS with 4-7+ years industry experience, or MS with 1-3+ years, or PhD with 0-3+ years in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Chemical/Biological/Biomedical Engineering, or related field.

What key skills are needed for the Upstream Process Development Scientist role?

Required skills include strong upstream bioprocess foundation with cell culture and bioreactor operation (fed-batch, perfusion), scale-up/scale-down fluency, DoE and MVDA literacy, CFD literacy, and familiarity with scientific computing and data analysis tools.

What is the employment type for this position?

The position is full-time regular employment.

What does the company culture at Zoetis emphasize for this role?

Zoetis values teams that appreciate clear thinking, ownership, collaboration across functions, listening well, learning quickly, and clear communication to deliver decisions and solutions.

What makes a strong candidate for this Scientist position?

Strong candidates demonstrate clear, first-principles reasoning, success bridging bench science, process engineering, and data science, plus strong communication and organization skills.