Postdoc - Characterization of CHO Host Cell Proteins (Biberach, Germany, Baden-Württemberg)
About this opportunity
The Position
Work at the forefront of innovative bioprocessing science and help shape the future of biopharmaceutical development!
Seize the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the understanding and control of host cell proteins originating from CHO cells, a key challenge in biologics development. Join our dynamic downstream process development & analytics team and use your scientific expertise to drive innovation at the interface of protein analytics, process development, and product quality.
Your expertise and commitment are our key to success!
Discover our Biberach site: xplorebiberach.com
This position is part time eligible with 80 %
Postdoc: This Position is limited for 2 years.
Note: To make it easier to find our job advertisements, we use the usual designation "postdoc". Of course, this advertisement is not only addressed to applicants directly after completing their doctorate, but to all qualified candidates.
Tasks & responsibilities
You will characterize and investigate CHO host cell proteins, with a particular focus on critical and difficult-to-remove species that may affect downstream processing and product stability.
Using advanced mass spectrometry-based approaches, you will identify, quantify, and profile host cell proteins and support impurity risk assessment through data-driven analyses.
You will establish, optimize, and apply analytical and functional assays to evaluate host cell protein behavior at trace levels throughout different purification stages.
Through recombinant protein expression strategies, you will enable the in-depth characterization of selected host cell proteins under controlled experimental conditions.
In close collaboration with downstream process development and analytics, you will investigate interactions between host cell proteins and therapeutic proteins and translate findings into risk mitigation strategies.
As principal investigator for research and technology projects, you will lead scientific studies, oversee project execution and data interpretation, supervise students and technical staff, and communicate results effectively to stakeholders and management.
Requirements
PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Biology, or a related scientific discipline
Strong expertise in protein biochemistry and molecular characterization, ideally including experience with host cell proteins (HCPs)
Hands-on experience with mass spectrometry-based protein identification and quantification methods, preferably with a focus on host cell protein analysis
Experience in MS data processing and analysis using bioinformatics tools, including both raw and processed datasets; knowledge of recombinant protein expression and purification is highly desirable
Solid understanding of downstream processing concepts, chromatography principles, and data-driven experimental design and quantitative data analysis
Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, supported by a strong scientific publication record and excellent English communication, scientific writing, and documentation skills
As part of our commitment to transparency and fairness, salary information will be shared during the recruitment process. We also offer a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing package.
Applications from persons with severe disabilities are warmly welcomed. In cases of equal qualifications, such applicants will be given preferential consideration in the selection process.
Ready to contact us?
If you have any questions about the job posting or process - please contact our HR Direct Team, Tel: +49 (0) 6132 77-3330 or via mail: hr.de@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Recruitment process:
Step 1: Online application - The job posting is presumably online until September 25, 2026
Step 2: Virtual meeting in the period from end of September till end of October
Step 3: On-site interviews beginning of November
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Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 76 comparable Intern/Fellow/Postdoc Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 19 biopharma companies.
Salary context
21 of 76 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 76 comparable roles
+ 3 more countries
Seniority mix
76 of 76 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
11 of 76 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
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How we calculate "similar"
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Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.