Scientist- Delivery Sciences-targeted LNPs (tLNPs)

Company info

NewLimit is a biotechnology company working to radically extend human healthspan. We're developing medicines to treat aging by reprogramming the epigenome, a new therapeutic mechanism to restore youthful function in aged cells. We've built the world's leading experimental and artificial intelligence system to discover reprogramming medicines at massive scale. Our first products are focused on restoring youthful metabolic, endothelial, and immune function.

About the role

NewLimit is seeking a Scientist to design, formulate and characterize targeted LNPs (tLNPs) with antibody conjugates, Nanobodies, and scFv's to build our targeting LNP platform with a particular focus on getting nucleic acid payloads into target cells and tissues beyond the liver.

This is a hands-on bench role with targeting compositional and reaction design ownership. You will work closely with the Delivery Sciences and biology teams to design and build relevant targeting lipids portfolio for New Limit's pipeline programs.

What you'll do

• Design and develop LNP compositions and conjugation chemistries for antibodies, nanobodies, scFv's, peptides, and other targeting moieties across multiple structural families, pushing the platform beyond current-generation materials for extra-hepatic targeting.
• Plan conjugation reactions and purification for these modalities with scale and final purity in mind from the outset, delivering against agreed project timelines.
• Test targeting lipids for the tLNP platform using an SAR-based approach to guide the next design cycle.
• Develop conjugation chemistries in-house or work with external partners to get the targeted LNPs for a particular target cell and build processes to support research teams to test the tLNPs in vivo.
• Turn in vitro and in vivo data from discovery teams into concrete structural hypotheses and optimize the tLNP compositions or the type of targeting molecules used.
• Present experimental results, and SAR conclusions, authoring protocols and technical reports.

Requirements

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biochemistry or a related discipline, plus 1-2 years of relevant work; or an MS with 5 years of focused tLNP design experience for liposomal or lipid nanoparticle applications.
• Strong skill set in the design formulation of new targeted LNPs, performed personally rather than with a supervisor directing each step.
• SAR-driven design, purification, and characterization of tLNPs and targeted moiety conjugated lipids and AI-based SAR prediction tools for tLNP applications.
• Working knowledge of conjugation chemistries for attaching targeting moieties such as peptides, antibodies, nanobodies, and small-molecule ligands, including linker design and the selection of suitable biorthogonal or site-specific handles.
• Practical purification skills spanning normal- and reverse-phase, size-exclusion chromatography and preparative HPLC.
• Analytical characterization across LC-CAD, LC-UV, DLS, CE, bio-layer interferometry and surface plasmon resonance with the ability to deconvolute the data to produce well-characterized tLNPs.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with novel conjugation chemistries and reaction methods.
• Targeting moiety optimization experience for Immune cells and endothelial cells.
• Exposure to scale-up process development, CMC, or tech transfer to a CDMO.
• Experience with data visualization and statistical analysis (R, Python, JMP)

Benefits

NewLimit provides generous benefits so our team can remain focused on our mission:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid parental leave.
• Industry-leading PTO: 20 days per year plus holidays.
• On-site meals and snacks.

Salary Range

$130,000 to $171,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. NewLimit offers a competitive benefits package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, and 20 days of PTO.