Senior Scientist - Platform Development Job at Stealth-stage biotech, San Diego, CA

  • Stealth-stage biotech
  • San Diego, CA

Job Description

Job Description

About the Company

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Institutionally backed biotech focused on neuroscience and the development of novel therapeutics.

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Position Overview

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We are seeking a Senior Scientist to help build and advance our peptide- and protein-based delivery

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platform. This is a hands-on platform development position with technical responsibilities across 

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molecular design, recombinant shuttle production, bioconjugation, and biophysical, biochemical, in 

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vitro, and in vivo characterization. The scientist will develop new capabilities, solve technical 

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problems, and generate data that guides platform and program decisions.

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The ideal candidate is a creative, scientifically curious thinker who questions assumptions, proposes 

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new approaches, and adapts methods to unfamiliar problems. They enjoy working across disciplines

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and will contribute wherever technical support is needed as the platform evolves. Responsibilities 

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extend beyond biochemistry and assay development.

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Key Responsibilities

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Platform Development and Technical Problem Solving

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• Identify technical gaps and develop experimental approaches, workflows, and tools that improve

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the platform across discovery, molecule production, characterization, and delivery.

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• Design hypothesis-driven experiments, test alternative approaches, and recommend practical 

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next steps when results challenge current assumptions.

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Recombinant Shuttle Production

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• Design expression constructs and produce, purify, and characterize recombinant shuttles, 

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including VHHs, Fc fusion proteins, and recombinant peptide constructs, using appropriate 

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microbial and/or mammalian expression systems.

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• Optimize expression, folding, recovery, and purification workflows; assess protein quality, purity, 

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aggregation, and stability using appropriate analytical methods.

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Small Scale Bioconjugation

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• Perform and optimize small-scale conjugation of peptide or protein shuttles to oligonucleotides 

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or other payloads, including reaction setup, purification, and recovery.

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• Characterize conjugates for purity, conjugation stoichiometry, residual free components, and 

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retained binding and activity, using in-house methods and external analytical support as 

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needed.

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3210 Merryfield 

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San Diego, CA 9212

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Diaxis Therapeutics, 

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Assay Development and Execution

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• Develop, optimize, and run biochemical and biophysical assays to evaluate shuttle and 

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conjugate binding, affinity, kinetics, selectivity, competition, and activity, using methods such as 

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BLI, SPR, and plate-based assays.

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• Develop flow cytometry assays to quantify cell-surface binding and internalization of shuttles 

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and conjugates, with controls and methods that distinguish surface-bound material from 

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internalized material.

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• Develop cell-based functional assays to assess payload activity, including oligonucleotidemediated gene knockdown, and relate functional results to binding and internalization data.

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• Establish assay conditions, controls, and performance criteria for screening, hit confirmation, 

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and lead optimization.

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• Troubleshoot assay variability, interference, and other technical challenges.

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• Document methods and results clearly so assays can be reproduced and used across 

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programs.

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In Vivo Studies and Translation

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• Provide technical support for the design, execution, and interpretation of in vivo studies with 

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biology colleagues and external partners, including pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, tissue 

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delivery, and functional activity.

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• Support bioanalytical methods for shuttles and payloads in biological samples, and integrate in 

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vivo findings with biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based data to guide optimization.

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Screening and Hit Validation

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• Support peptide and protein screening campaigns and follow-up testing of selected hits, 

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including hits from display-based discovery programs.

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• Confirm promising hits using orthogonal assays and appropriate counter-screens.

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• Generate concentration-response, binding, competition, and selectivity data to support shuttle 

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and conjugate optimization.

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• Work with peptide chemistry and protein engineering colleagues to evaluate how sequence 

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changes, linkers, and conjugation affect molecular performance.

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Collaboration and Data Interpretation

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• Analyze results, identify limitations, and recommend follow-up experiments.

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• Partner with peptide chemistry, protein engineering, biology, and platform colleagues to ensure 

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experiments address key program questions.

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• Coordinate with external partners on specialized conjugation and analytical characterization 

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needs.

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• Present findings and recommendations in project meetings.

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• Help improve shared assay workflows and mentor less experienced team members as 

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appropriate.

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3210 Merryfield 

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San Diego, CA 9212

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Diaxis Therapeutics, 

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Qualifications

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Required Qualifications

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• PhD in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Protein Engineering, Biology, or a related field with 3 or 

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more years of relevant industry experience; or a master’s degree with equivalent experience.

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• Demonstrated hands-on experience in recombinant protein expression, purification, and 

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characterization.

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• Practical experience performing and troubleshooting small-scale protein or peptide 

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bioconjugation.

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• Strong hands-on experience independently developing and troubleshooting biochemical, 

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biophysical, and cell-based assays.

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• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and flow cytometry assay development for 

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cell binding and internalization, including appropriate controls, gating, and data analysis.

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• Experience contributing to in vivo study design, bioanalysis, or interpretation of pharmacokinetic

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and biodistribution data.

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• Experience supporting screening, hit validation, or lead optimization in a drug discovery setting.

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• Experience with binding and characterization methods such as BLI or SPR, plate-based assays,

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and protein analytical techniques.

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• Ability to design appropriate controls, assess data quality, and recognize potential assay 

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artifacts.

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• Strong experimental, analytical, documentation, and communication skills.

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• Independent problem solving, sound experimental judgment, and willingness to learn new 

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methods and contribute across the platform as priorities evolve.

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Preferred Qualifications

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• Experience with phage display and/or yeast display library design, construction, and screening, 

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including selection strategy and hit validation.

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• Experience analyzing enrichment and next-generation sequencing data from display screens.

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• Experience with cyclic peptides, oligonucleotide conjugates, or receptor-mediated delivery.

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