Scientist / Senior Scientist Translational Biology

Role

• Scientist/Senior Scientist, Translational Biology
• Reports to: Associate Director, Biology
• Department: Scientific R&D
• Team: Biology
• Level: Scientist/Senior Scientist
• Location: Brisbane, CA

The Opportunity

We are seeking a talented Scientist or Senior Scientist to join our Biology team. This role leads the preclinical mechanism-of-action work behind our two clinical-stage programs: a potential best-in-class complement inhibitor and a potential first-in-class lipid-modulating agent, both designed to slow the rate of retinal cell death and vision loss.

The role deepens our understanding of how these assets work, evaluates next-generation forms of each mechanism, and assesses new disease applications for them. This is a hands-on, individual contributor position based at our Brisbane, CA site, reporting to the Associate Director, Biology. Candidates with diverse scientific backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute and interpret in vitro studies that extend the mechanism of action of our clinical-stage assets in disease-relevant cell systems, including primary and iPSC-derived RPE, microglia, retinal and endothelial models
• Evaluate next-generation forms of these mechanisms and alternative delivery approaches for retained expression, activity and potency
• Build the in vitro biology that connects clinical biomarker readouts to drug mechanism, and support interpretation of emerging clinical biomarker and PK data
• Assess new disease applications for existing mechanisms, building the cell models and readouts in the relevant tissue context
• Collaboratively design and manage the execution of in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD studies with CROs
• Present data and recommendations at internal and external meetings to audiences of diverse scientific backgrounds

About You

• You reason across biology.
• You can take a mechanism, infer where else in human pathology it may be relevant, form a testable hypothesis, and design the experiment that would prove or disprove it.
• You are hands-on at the bench, rigorous with data, and able to scope and troubleshoot an experiment independently.

• PhD in cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology or a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of postdoctoral or industry experience
• Deep hands-on capability in mammalian cell culture, quantitative functional assays including immunoassays, flow cytometry, high content imaging and qPCR
• Experience building and qualifying cell-based assays, including comparative potency assays able to discriminate between closely related variants
• Rigorous quantitative analysis, familiarity with basic statistical methods, and meticulous experimental documentation
• Evidence of thinking across unfamiliar biologies, such as moving into a new field or taking a mechanism into a new tissue or disease context
• Experience designing and managing in vivo studies with CROs is preferred
• Experience evaluating AAV or other gene-therapy constructs, or protein-engineered variants, for expression, activity or potency is preferred
• Must be able to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Research experience in the following fields is preferred but not required: complement biology, cholesterol and lipid trafficking, ocular diseases

Compensation & Benefits

The annual pay range for this full-time position is $115,000 - $170,000 + equity + benefits. Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications and work location.

• Benefits include a competitive salary, strong equity incentives, medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and an accrued paid time off policy.
• Character is committed to recruiting, developing, and supporting colleagues from all backgrounds.
• We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as an integral part of our culture.