Research Associate, Drug Discovery

Description:

Engineered Small Molecules (ESM) is seeking a highly motivated Contract Research Associate to join our team to participate in drug discovery programs that utilize cutting-edge Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) drug development approaches to lead to the development of new medicines and identification of new targets. The primary focus of this position is to conduct high quality bench research and to perform biochemical and cellular assays that will contribute to our drug discovery efforts.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

•        Support assay development and carry out experiments to assess protein levels using techniques including Western Blot (capillary and standard), flow cytometry, and ELISA.

•        Perform in vitro tissue culture experiments, including routine cell culture maintenance, primary immune cell isolations, and culture and co-culture assays.

•        Support assay development to assess novel compounds for their capacity for proximity induction, using novel biochemical and cell biological approaches.

•        Sample processing for flow cytometry, cytokine, or protein or RNA isolations to evaluate biological samples and cells including by standard western blotting, qPCR, and other commercially available assays/kits.

•        Design and troubleshoot experiments, independently perform dilutions and calculations.

•        Excellent analytical and proactive troubleshooting skills and attention to detail are a must.

•        Detailed record-keeping and protocol refinement as related to immunological, molecular, and cellular assay development.

•        Must collaborate and communicate well with other members of the Immunobiology group and throughout the division.

·        Understand, communicate about, and regularly present their work at internal and department meetings.

•        Efficient in excel, word, PowerPoint.

•        Interest in learning immunology, molecular biology, and biochemical techniques, assays, platforms and underlying biology.

·        Familiarity with the ubiquitin-proteosome system and the immune system, including some immunology coursework, a plus.

•        Experience in cancer biology, ubiquitin-proteosome biology, induced proximity, or small molecule or antibody-based drug discovery are pluses.

Quantitative Dimensions:

• This position directly impacts our ability to prosecute our company goals of maintaining an early stage pipeline of potential drug candidates.
• The measures of success are the advancement of new targets through the successive stages of the drug discovery pipeline.
• Their components are:
• Efficient and technically competent execution of lab work designed to advance early stage projects.
• Accurately interpret experimental data, perform statistical analysis, formulate conclusions and communicate data with colleagues.
• Maintenance of accurate and up to date records of experimental data.
• Presentation of data at regular internal meetings.

Organizational Context:

• The position will be filled as a Research Assistant, part of the Biology Group.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of drug discovery experience or Master’s Degree with 0-2 years experience.
• Prior experience conducting high quality science in an academic or industry setting.
• Proactive self-starter with a demonstrated ability to think logically and critically, excellent organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Team player with strong written and oral communication skills.
• Able to work productively and to participate in a highly creative and fast-paced environment.
• This position is based in Cambridge, MA and will require on-site work.

Preferred:

• Cancer biology or immunology coursework; previous laboratory experience; experience with cancer or ubiquitin-proteosome biology a plus; flow cytometry experience especially is a plus.