Sr Scientist, Translational Biology

Company Overview:

Strand Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company utilizing synthetic biology to genetically program mRNA to deliver truly revolutionary immunotherapies.

Building on the idea of creating smart therapies based on Boolean logic circuits, Strand was started by biological engineers working together at MIT who were seeking to apply the concept of the emerging field of mRNA therapeutics. This collaboration led them to build their own mRNA “programming language,” creating the world’s first platform for mRNA smart therapies.

The founders and scientific advisors of Strand Therapeutics are made up of well-known and highly regarded individuals in both academia and the biotech industry. Our corporate headquarters is located in the Fenway district of Boston, Massachusetts with an additional site based in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Become the next standout single strand!

Job Summary:

Strand is looking to build a team that understands the value of working at a start-up. Joining Strand now places you alongside the founding executive team and world-leading advisors. We are looking for people who have the enthusiasm and motivation to be a highly contributing member of a small but extremely productive team. This opportunity will offer the employee the ability to work closely with the founding team, and be a part of the growth strategy of the company.

We are looking for a Sr Scientist within the Translational Biology group to drive programmatic efforts to develop transformative mRNA medicines at Strand Therapeutics. The ideal candidate will leverage their experience in preclinical discovery to contribute to the overall immuno-oncology for the organization. This is an opportunity for an individual to lead a scientific program from early discovery to development candidate nomination and beyond. The candidate will be expected to leverage cross-functional resources and expertise to support decision-making around target selection, product concept refinement, pharmacology, and R&D candidate nomination. A successful candidate will be innovative, resourceful, and possess the ability to identify key gaps and help to define target product profiles.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategies to identify, prioritize, and validate novel mRNA therapeutic candidates.
• Conduct pharmacology studies to establish proof of concept, mechanism of action/resistance, PK/PD, and support nomination of research and development candidates.
• Lead a cross-functional team to develop and manage timelines to accomplish program objectives.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in immunology and immuno-oncology.
• Mentor and develop junior scientists.
• Maintain proper records in electronic notebook and contribute to writing protocols.
• Contribute to pharmacology data packages for regulatory submissions.
• Maintain current understanding of the oncology and immunotherapy landscape.

Qualifications:

• PhD in immunology, immuno-oncology, cell/molecular biology or relevant field with 3-5 years drug development experience, or M.S. with 6-8 years of relevant industry experience.
• Expertise in mammalian cell culture, primary immune cell assay development, high-dimensional flow cytometry, immunoassays, IHC, qRT-PCR etc.
• Self-motivated with a strong ability to influence and leverage cross-functional teams.
• Solid in depth understanding of immune cell/tissue crosstalk and immune-modulatory pathways and how they apply to specific therapeutic modalities.
• Demonstrated experience in preclinical development from early target discovery/validation to IND-enabling studies.
• Strong inter-personal skills that enable effective collaboration.
• Experience in RNA therapeutics is a plus.

Strand offers a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, team-focused work environment. We also offer a top-notch benefits package (health, dental, life, vacation, 401k, and commuter) and work/ life integration. Being part of the Strand team allows you to become part of a small team that supports professional development while working together to meet the company goals.

Strand Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable law. Strand does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Commensurate with role and experience