About us:

NextRNA Therapeutics, Inc. is a Boston-based biotechnology company leading the next revolution of RNA-directed therapeutics. Our focus is on identifying and drugging long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with small molecules in oncology and neuroscience.

Our proprietary computational engine, combined with deep lncRNA biology expertise and strong drug discovery capabilities, positions us well to unlock the therapeutic value of lncRNAs, a vast and promising target space.

NextRNA has assembled an experienced team of industry leaders, biology and chemistry experts, and drug developers, all driven by a common passion for working together and having an impact on science and patients.

About you:

As a Scientist II/Senior Scientist at NextRNA Therapeutics, you will join an interdisciplinary team of highly creative and talented individuals whose vision is to improve patients’ lives by expanding the space of small molecules targeting RNA. You will have an opportunity to work with a diverse team of biologists, biochemists, chemists, and computational biologists to support drug discovery programs for the next wave of RNA therapeutics.

• You are a rigorous experimentalist who takes pride in your ability to execute at the bench.
• You are passionate about science and exploring novel pathways and mechanisms of action to drive drug discovery.
• You are a real team player whose collaboration is one of your best strengths.
• You are conscientious, organized, and detailed oriented.
• You are curious, love learning, and are eager to do what it takes to solve hard problems.
• You thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy pushing the edge of what is possible.
• You enjoy wearing several hats and volunteer to take on additional responsibilities for the good of the company and the team.
• Onsite presence in our Boston office (Brighton, MA) 5 days a week.

What you’ll do:

• Leverage expertise in cell and cancer biology to validate novel lncRNAs that drive disease and interrogate their mechanism of action.
• Provide oncology expertise to our drug discovery programs.
• Work effectively in a cross-functional capacity with computational biology, biochemistry, and chemistry teams to deliver high-quality results efficiently and in a timely manner.
• Collaborate and communicate across a diverse interdisciplinary research team.
• Keep detailed and organized records of experimental protocols and results.
• Contribute to daily lab management activities.
• Record, communicate and present experimental outcomes effectively across the organization.

Key Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Genetics, or equivalent.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience required, with at least 2 years in industry required.
• Strong foundational knowledge of cell, molecular and cancer biology and an understanding of early-stage drug discovery is required.
• Proven track record of scientific innovation, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications or scientific presentations.
• Ability to independently design and execute experiments and communicate results is required.
• Proficiency in mammalian cell culture and RNAi-, ASO- and/or CRISPR-based genetic perturbation techniques is required.
• Experience in common cell & molecular biology techniques such as RNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, western blot, cell viability assays, and immunofluorescence, is required.
• Expertise in quantitative and/or statistical analysis using common software tools (e.g., GraphPad Prism, Microsoft Suite, etc.) is required.