Scientist I/II,( AAV Capsid Engineering/R&D)

We are Voyager Therapeutics, a company compelled by curiosity and powered by persistence. We are the seekers who specialize in clinical-stage gene therapy, focused on developing life-changing treatments for severe neurological diseases. Voyager is committed to advancing the field of AAV gene therapy through innovation in vector engineering, capsid discovery, manufacturing, and the optimization of dosing and delivery to enable these novel therapies. Our wholly owned and partnered pipeline focuses on severe neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Friedreich’s Ataxia and other areas where patient communities are currently underserved. We’ve been busy, but we’ve got so much more to discover - such is the life of a Voyager.

If you’re someone who thrives on finding the elusive answers to tough questions, come explore with us!

The Novel Capsid Discovery team is generating a portfolio of designer AAV capsids with tailored properties using our state-of-the-art TRACER platform technology, which could prove truly transformative for the future of gene therapy. We are looking for a talented and motivated Scientist I or II to join the Vector Engineering group in order to support capsid programs aimed at improving tropism, tissue detargeting and immune evasion. The role will involve: 1) generating high-diversity AAV capsid libraries, 2) screening libraries using cell-based assays and/or in vivo models to select capsids with desired properties, 3) recovering nucleic acids from cells and animal tissues, 4) identifying capsid variants via Next-Generation Sequencing and analysis of large datasets, and 5) characterizing the functional properties of individual capsid variants. As a Scientist I/II in the Novel Capsid Discovery team, you will demonstrate a strong level of curiosity, self-motivation and accountability as well as desire to drive research projects under minimal supervision. This is the opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technologies and make an impact in the field of AAV gene therapy by bringing novel capsids to the clinic.     

Responsibilities 

• Participate in all aspects of the library screening process, including, but not limited to: library design, cloning, virus production, animal tissue processing and library recovery, NGS preparation, data analysis, and in vivo capsid validation.
• Develop and execute novel cell-based assays for screening and individual capsid assessment.
• Manage and conduct in-house studies across multiple teams as well as with external collaborators.
• Conduct advanced procedures precisely and consistently by following established protocols, as well as document and maintain a well-organized account of lab work and results.
• Regularly communicate results within the research organization and at conferences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree and a minimum of 8 years of work experience in a research setting OR a PhD and a minimum of 0-2 years of research work experience in Molecular/Cellular Biology or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in standard molecular biology techniques (PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis, cloning techniques, etc.) as well as mammalian cell culture.
• Experience in developing and optimizing cell-based assays.
• Track record of driving independent scientific projects, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publication(s) and poster(s).
• Ability to be highly productive and self-motivated in a fluid, fast-paced team environment.
• Outstanding problem solving and troubleshooting skills.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Hands-on experience with and knowledge of viral vectors, preferably AAV
• Experience with synthetic DNA libraries
• Familiarity with NGS Illumina library preparation and sequencing
• Rodent husbandry, handling, and dissection

RECRUITING & STAFFING AGENCIES: Voyager Therapeutics does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Voyager or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Voyager’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Voyager, and Voyager will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.