Senior Scientist/Staff Scientist, Protein Science

THE COMPANY

Septerna is a biotechnology company with a vision to become the industry-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-focused R&D company with a portfolio of life-changing medicines. The company’s Native Complex™ Platform recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular environment to enable new technologies for industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire GPCR target class for the first time. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule drug discovery programs, along with growth potential to reach many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date. Septerna was launched by scientific founders who have made groundbreaking GPCR discoveries and by founding investor Third Rock Ventures. For more information see: www.septerna.com.

Join a multidisciplinary team of colleagues focused on creating revolutionary medicines to address significant needs of patients. Bring your real self to work every day; grow and learn from a talented team of drug hunters, scientists, and business professionals; and contribute your passion, creativity, and energy to our mission. At Septerna we embrace diversity of thought, expertise, and background; we share a fearless pursuit of ground-breaking innovations; and our employees learn from each other and succeed as a team.

THE ROLE

We are seeking passionate and creative individuals who want to contribute to Septerna’s mission to utilize innovative drug discovery technologies for GPCR targets. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in protein biochemistry, including expression, purification, and characterization of proteins from mammalian, bacterial, and insect cells.

The chosen candidate will be working in a collaborative team contributing to workflows for the production and characterization of proteins for use in structure biology, biophysics, and small molecule drug discovery. This position offers the unique opportunity to join an innovative well-funded startup and to contribute to its long-term success.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform as a hands-on biochemist to help fully enable Septerna native complex platform.

• Design and implement workflows to express, purify and characterize soluble and membrane proteins from mammalian, bacterial, and insect cells.

• Responsibilities will include protein engineering, mammalian tissue culture, generation and validation of baculovirus, ELISAs, and automated column chromatography (FPLC/HPLC).

• Closely collaborate with protein sciences team to automate and streamline current biochemical workflows.

• Establish and manage externalized protein production at contract research organizations.

• Develop and perform biochemical assays using a variety of readout technologies (e.g., fluorescence, luminescence, TR-FRET, AlphaLISA, radioligand binding, etc.)

• Work in a collaborative environment to support discovery, biophysics, and structural biology efforts for internal drug discovery programs.

• Independently design, execute, and interpret biochemical workflows

• Data analysis, documentation, and presentation in group and project team meetings

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD with a minimum of 5+ years, or BS/MS with 10+ years, of relevant experience in in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting

• Proficiency in protein engineering, cell culture, and protein expression in bacterial, insect, and mammalian systems is required.

• Strong experience in protein purification using automated column chromatography (FPLC) – size exclusion, ion-exchange, etc.

• Experience with both soluble and membrane protein purification is preferred but not required.

• An understanding of protein characterization techniques such as multi-angle light scattering (MALS), Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF), etc.

• Familiarity with automation and data analysis/reporting software is highly desired.

• Demonstrated experience building strong partnerships across the organization; ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment while also working independently on experimental planning, data analysis and interpretation

• Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills

 The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in South San Francisco, CA is $121,000 - $153,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Septerna's compensation package also includes benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited.