What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Scientist, Assay Development & Cell Engineering position at Psivant Therapeutics, Inc.?
Psivant Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated, versatile, and experienced Senior Scientist to join our growing team and lead through the bench. This individual will play a critical role in devising, developing, and executing assays to support drug discovery programs focused on modulating protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The ideal candidate will have a strong background in PPI assay development, cell engineering, and imaging techniques, with a passion for scientific rigor, a collaborative approach, and a proven track record in small molecule drug discovery.
\n- PPI Assay Development & Execution:
- Independently develop, optimize, and execute various biochemical and cellular PPI assays including alphaLISA, NanoBiT, ELISA, HTRF, and cell binding assays.
- Articulate scientific rationale and select appropriate assays based on project needs.
- Independently troubleshoot assay performance issues and survey literature for novel technological solutions to impact projects in a timely manner.
- Cell Engineering:
- Design and generate customized cell lines and proteins to study cell binding, receptor-ligand interactions, and cell-signaling pathways.
- Independently design genetic constructs and engineer cells using techniques such as transfection and viral transduction.
- Develop and characterize reporter cell lines for evaluating compound activity.
- Receptor Membrane Dynamics:
- Utilize imaging techniques (e.g., fluorescence microscopy) to characterize receptor expression and dynamics in engineered cell lines.
- Analyze and interpret imaging data to understand the impact of receptor localization on ligand binding and drug activity.
- Leadership and Scientific Excellence:
- Cultivate a collaborative lab environment by training colleagues, promoting best practices, and exemplifying scientific rigor.
- Maintain meticulous records and adhere to high laboratory standards, including assay automation, reagent QC, and assay validation.
- Communicate data to diverse audiences spanning junior scientists to senior leaders.
- Contribute to Drug Discovery:
- Apply expertise to advance small molecule drug discovery programs.
- Effectively manage time and prioritize tasks to meet project deadlines.
- Proactively identify and address challenges, demonstrating a high degree of ownership and a drive for success.
- PhD in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field with 5 years of relevant industry experience or Msc with 10 years of experience preferably with 2 years of experience in Immunology and Inflammation drug discovery Extensive hands-on experience with a variety of PPI assays (alphaLISA, NanoBiT, NanoBRET, ELISA, HTRF, cell binding).
- Proven expertise in cell engineering techniques, including genetic construct design, transfection, and viral transduction.
- Experience with imaging techniques (e.g., fluorescence microscopy) and image analysis software.
- Strong understanding of applied methods to interrogate receptor biology and cell signaling pathways.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proven ability to effectively organize and manage time.
- Demonstrated ability to work proactively and with a high degree of ownership.
