Sr. Scientist (Neuroscience)

About Voyager Therapeutics 
Voyager Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VYGR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to breaking through barriers in gene therapy and neurology. The potential of both disciplines has been constrained by delivery challenges; Voyager is leveraging cutting-edge expertise in capsid discovery and deep neuropharmacology capabilities to address these constraints. Voyager’s TRACER™ AAV capsid discovery platform has generated novel capsids with high target delivery and blood-brain barrier penetration at low doses, potentially addressing the narrow therapeutic window associated with conventional gene therapy delivery vectors. This platform is fueling alliances with Pfizer Inc., Novartis Pharma AG, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., and Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., as well as multiple programs in Voyager’s own pipeline. Voyager’s pipeline includes wholly owned and collaborative preclinical programs in Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and other diseases of the central nervous system, with a focus on validated targets and biomarkers to enable a path to rapid potential proof-of-biology. For more information, visit www.voyagertherapeutics.com.

Voyager Therapeutics® is a registered trademark, and TRACER™ is a trademark, of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to contribute to our Neuroscience team at our facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is an ideal position for an individual with hands-on experience supporting programs from in vitro target validation to in vivo development candidate nomination who thrives in a team-oriented, fast-paced, and cross-disciplinary start-up biotech environment. The individual will have the ability to work independently in the laboratory and be responsible for experimental execution of research studies supporting cutting edge therapeutic programs and platform discovery research in neurodegenerative disease areas.   An ideal candidate would have the ability to independently conduct both in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies/analysis. The in vitro expertise would allow this candidate to support target validation using cell culture with RT-qPCR, ELISA, ddPCR, MSD, western blot and/or immunocytochemistry as readouts. The in vivo expertise would allow the candidate to independently design and execute rodent in vivo experiments to support Development Candidate nomination following the in vitro target identification. Lastly, the ex vivo expertise would include confidence in processing the tissues from the in vivo studies, likely with the assays listed above (RT-qPCR, ELISA, ddPCR, MSD, western blot and/or immunocytochemistry).

Position Specific Responsibilities:

• Design, execute experiments, analyze data, and write reports (both written and verbal) for AAV platform discovery research.
• Perform cell culture for multiple cell lines to support in vitro target engagement.
• Conduct analysis including various DNA, mRNA and protein assays from both tissue and cell culture.

• Design and execute rodent in vivo experiments: animal handling, test article dosing via various administration routes including stereotaxic surgeries, intravenous, and intraperitoneal administration.

• Performs in-life studies including dosing, blood or CSF collection, perfusion, tissue dissection and collection.
• Conducts ex vivo tissue, CSF and serum analysis (ELISA, western blot, RT-qPCR, etc.)
• Performs data analyses independently as well as delivers effective data presentations to the research teams.
• Ensures maintenance of industry-quality records to provide documentation.

Specialized Knowledge & Skills:

• Outstanding problem-solving skills
• Ability to read and interpret the literature to support advancement of programs and/or platform discovery research.
• Ability to be highly productive in a fluid and fast-paced work environment.
• Good communication skills and ability to multi-task.
• Ability to analyze and present data independently to the research teams.
• Strong commitment to accountability for completion of projects in accordance with team and company plans.
• Excellent organizational skill and attention to detail.
• Thrives in a team-oriented, fast-paced, and cross-disciplinary start-up biotech environment.

Requirements:

Educational Requirements:

• A PhD degree with 5+ years or MS with 12+ years or BS with 13+ years’ experience in the field of Neuroscience, Pharmacology or related discipline is required.

Experience:

• Strong preference for a candidate with experience in AAV gene therapy
• Prior related experience, ideally with a biotechnology or other life sciences company, is preferred but not required.
• Strong background in cell culture, in vivo experimental methods, and readouts.

• Hands-on experience with molecular and cellular techniques including ELISA, RT-qPCR, ddPCR, and biochemical assay development.

• Hands-on experience in stereotaxic surgery in rodent models, CNS tissue dissection, and downstream ex vivo analysis (RT-qPCR, western blot, and ELISA).

• Experience with IPSC and primary neuronal culture is a plus.

• Prior experience in drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases would be preferred.
• Prior contract management experience is preferred but not required.