Senior Scientist (Oligonucleotide Therapeutics) Full-time

Senior Scientist

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Scientist to join our group dedicated to the drug discovery and technology development specifically in oligonucleotide therapeutics, such as antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs. You will design and screen oligonucleotide candidates as well as carry out research on technology development to improve chemistry and delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics (siRNA/ASO).

As a Senior Scientist, a typical day might include:

• Maintaining and culturing cell lines and primary cells, as well as generating stable cell lines.
• Optimizing assays to test oligonucleotide drug candidates such as siRNAs/ASOs using both cell-based activity assays (cell migration, viability, microscopy, flow cytometry, etc.) and RNA based activity assays (RT-qPCR, RISC loading, RNaseH cleavage)
• Running and analyzing off-target profiles, propose optimizations, and design PK/PD, stability and metabolic profiling assays
• Carrying out routine molecular biology and biochemistry tasks including PCR, western blot, etc.
• Optimizing and implementing protocols to test for novel delivery techniques for oligonucleotides based on antibodies, peptides and other conjugates
• Working on developing tissue specific delivery platforms for nucleic acid therapeutics
• Working closely with the synthetic chemistry group to optimize chemistry of nucleic acid drug candidates

This role might be for you if you:

• Have strong time-management skills, as well as attention to details and ability to innovate out of the box
• Have the ability to multi-task and shift with changing priorities
• Are able to work efficiently both independently and as a part of the broader team
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills

In order to be considered for this role, you must have at least a Ph.D. and 2+ years of relevant experience in the siRNA/gene therapy space. We need someone with experience working with siRNA/ASOs and an in-depth knowledge in gene transcription and protein translation, RNA splicing, as well as gene expression regulation. Experience in cell-based screening assays, such as ELISA, luciferase, fluorescence and Western blotting is required. Experience in flow cytometry and bDNA assays are highly preferred. We need someone with experience with cell culture and RT-qPCR skills. Experience working in-vivo and genotyping is a plus. Generating stable cell lines with various viral vectors (retrovirus, lentivirus, adeno-associated virus, etc) is strongly preferred. Experiences in bioconjugation, working with chromatography systems for biomolecule purifications are advantageous.