By Andrew Ramirez
On June 8th, the Rutgers iJOBS program partnered with Antigenix Therapeutics, a growing biotech company headquartered in Princeton, NJ, to host a virtual site visit. Antigenix Therapeutics specializes in developing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies for cancer. The virtual site visit began with the introduction of Dr. Dowdy Jackson, the Chief Scientific Officer of Antigenix Therapeutics.
Overview of Dr. Jackson’s Career & Antigenix Therapeutics
Before discussing the company, Dr. Jackson shared the educational journey that led him to his current role. He first obtained his B.S in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and then his M.S. in Molecular Biology from California State University (CSU), Dominguez Hills. Additionally, he pursued his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biophysics at Northwestern University, where his thesis focused on identifying proteins that promote angiogenesis, the process by which new capillaries develop out of existing blood vessels. Following graduate school, he conducted research on tumor angiogenesis as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Jackson highlighted that he wanted to transition to industry after academia to better understand how to create drugs for patients.
Dr. Jackson then reflected on his extensive career in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Over the course of more than 20 years, he has held positions at Pfizer, Novartis, MedImmune, Agensys, Ambrx, Innovent Biologics, and the non-profit organization TB Alliance. He later founded the Jackson Consulting Group before joining Antigenix Therapeutics. Throughout his career, Dr. Jackson has contributed to numerous biologics and small-molecule drug development programs, ranging from projects discontinued before Phase 1 clinical trials to therapies that ultimately achieved FDA approval. He emphasized that not all his projects were “all rainbows and sunshine”; Dr. Jackson noted how informative failures were to his growth and how he applied those experiences to future projects.
After sharing his professional background, Dr. Jackson provided an overview of Antigenix Therapeutics. The company’s mission is to provide “more hope and more choices” to cancer patients. Antigenix Therapeutic's therapies are laboratory-engineered proteins designed to bind selectively to cancer cells. Their patented engineered antibody serves as the foundation for multiple precision therapies they want to develop in the future. At the time of this presentation, Antigenix Therapeutics was interesting in recruiting an experimental postdoctoral researcher to join the company and whose work would focus on generating the data needed to move their products along the drug approval process. This position would be supported by funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), whose mission is to strengthen New Jersey’s economy by expanding access to opportunity for businesses. Interested applicants in the company and the position were recommended to reach out to Dr. Jackson directly because a joint application between the individual and company is required to receive the grant funding.
Advice for Early-career Professionals
Dr. Jackson provided the benefits and drawbacks of working in small and large biotech/pharmaceutical companies based on his extensive experience in industry. Some key points are highlighted below:
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Toward the end of his presentation, Dr. Jackson reflected on the most relevant lessons he has learned throughout his career. First, he emphasized the importance of strong leadership, teamwork, and open communication. Dr. Jackson also discussed how crucial it is to identify mentors at various stages of your career who can advocate for you as you pursue your next goal. Finally, he underscored the importance of being receptive to constructive feedback from your team as a critical component of professional growth.
Q&A from Dr. Jackson
Several graduate students and postdoctoral researchers asked Dr. Jackson questions, including:
- Q1: What skills are you looking for in an application?
- A1: He noted that the ideal candidate would be curious about ADCs, passionate about developing therapeutics for patients, and experienced in cell culture, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and single-cell cloning.
- Q2: Are you looking for a skill set in AI?
- A2: He mentioned they are looking for those comfortable with AI, such as integrating AI with their data analysis, literature searching, and preparation for meetings
- Q3: How would one apply to Antigenix Therapeutics?
- A3: He recommended reaching out to him directly with a CV and cover letter. He also noted that they are prioritizing recruitment of New Jersey residents.
- Q4: How much do you interact with clinical trial coordinators?
- A4: He discussed that they would interact with these coordinators closer to Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials; thus, as of right now, they do not have many interactions.
- Q5: What are the biggest pros and cons to an academic vs. industry postdoctoral researcher position?
- A5: He emphasized that industry postdocs allow you to obtain technical experience, make connections, and learn about an industry setting. He also mentioned that although you can publish in industry, it will not be the focus as is the case in academia.
- Q6: Do you conduct analytical testing in-house, or do you outsource equipment?
- A6: He noted that they outsource most equipment since Antigenix Therapeutics does not have the facilities to conduct all their studies.
- Q7: How can candidates who don’t have wet lab experience sell themselves to pharmaceutical companies?
- A7: He emphasized investigating the company and the role, as not all jobs require you to have wet-lab experience. He also argued that you can always consult or create your own company to utilize your unique skillset.
- Q8: How was it being a part of a stealth mode company?
- A8: He discussed how crucial it is to find investors for the company.
- Q9: Do you have any advice for those looking to transition into industry after graduate school?
- A9: A few different recommendations were made, including asking lots of questions to your interviewer and to the team you will possibly work with. He highlighted that even though you are being interviewed, you are interviewing the company just as much. He noted how important it is to work with a team you get along with and can grow with.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the virtual site visit with Antigenix Therapeutics provided profound insight into the career path of Dr. Dowdy Jackson and the solutions Antigenix Therapeutics is developing to tackle cancer. Dr. Jackson’s career advice was vast and wide; his words of wisdom were instrumental to the iJOBS community, providing guidance on transitioning to industry after graduate school training or postdoctoral researcher positions. At the time of the presentation, Antigenix Therapeutics was actively searching for a postdoctoral researcher position and planned to expand its personnel. In summary, the virtual site visit provided a peek into the mission and world of a small biotech company, and iJOBS provided a way for the community to access a new space for many.
This article was edited by junior editor Matthew Brown and senior editor Janaina Cruz Pereira.