Scientist I

Job Summary

About Us:

The Wyss Institute’s mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. We harness the imagination of academia and the focus of industry to translate ground-breaking technologies into commercial products that solve big problems. We support research that universities, companies, and venture capital firms don’t fund because they view it as too risky. We prefer to use the word “challenging,” and we love challenges. For more information discover our technologies , catch up on our recent news , or watch our latest videos .

About you:

You are a collaborative, impact-focused problem solver who wants to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to creating and commercializing novel approaches to global challenges in healthcare and sustainability. You want the opportunity to explore your scientific interests and apply your knowledge to tackle ambitious projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial-minded environment with resources and support from top-notch scientific, operations, and administrative professionals. You enjoy working with highly motivated, diverse teams and leveraging your expertise to create innovations that can change the world. You have a passion for translational research. You want to be a part of a dynamic team dedicated to creating new approaches to identify and validate novel transport proteins for brain drug delivery. You enjoy working with diverse groups of people and leveraging your expertise to contribute to innovations that can help improve the treatment of brain diseases. You thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

About the Role:

The Wyss Institute’s Brain Targeting Program (BTP), co-led by James Gorman, M.D., Ph.D. and Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., is developing brain delivery technologies that enable the development of safer and more effective brain-targeted therapeutics for diverse brain diseases. Our brain delivery platform enables these therapeutic advances by dramatically improving transport of drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the brain. We are looking for a talented Scientist to support the development of our novel brain shuttle target identification and validation platform. Reporting to the Senior Director of Translational R&D and the Novel Shuttle Target Lead, you will work as part of a collaborative team to identify novel shuttle targets and contribute to their validation. Your role will involve optimizing and developing assays for protein expression analysis as well as in vitro and in vivo transport validation to advance brain-targeted drug delivery efforts. For more information, visit this link here.

Position Description

What you’ll do:

• Execute on assigned projects in the development and optimization of the brain shuttle target identification and validation.
• Perform and optimize sample preparation for proteomics, including cell type isolation, tissue homogenization, digestion, and enrichment, and coordinate with internal or external mass spectrometry facilities.
• Design and execute protein expression validation assays, including Western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and FACS, adapting protocols as needed for novel targets and reagents. Support and help execute in vitro and in vivo assays using antibodies, peptides, or other ligands to evaluate the transport potential of selected targets. Design and troubleshoot experiments, drawing from emerging literature and incorporating new approaches into assay development and experimental approaches.
• Participate in the analysis of multi-omics datasets (RNA-seq and proteomics) to help prioritize target proteins for further validation based on expression profiles and predicted function.
• Mentor and and train less experienced team members or academic interns as needed. May supervise technicians.
• Present experimental results and project updates at internal meetings and contribute to recommending next steps for experiments. Take an active role in strategy discussions related to these experiments.
• Demonstrate a commitment to teamwork, scientific rigor, and collaboration within and across teams.

Basic Qualifications

What you'll need:

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or related field required.
• A minimum of four years of hands-on experience in many of the following: proteomics, cell culture, rodent handling, and molecular and cellular biology techniques such as ELISA, Western blotting, confocal imaging, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Advanced education may count towards years of experience

Additional Qualifications And Skills

Desirable skills:

• A PhD in neuroscience, biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Experience with RNA-Seq and proteomics datasets, microvessel isolation, cell type isolation, and biotinylation, is helpful but not required.
• Experience with sample preparation for proteomic analysis.
• Experience with antibody/peptide/AAV transport assays. Ability to work well independently and to collaborate with a multidisciplinary group.
• Proficiency with personal computers and applicable software packages (Microsoft Office, R, Prism, flowJo, and others).

Offer contingent on successful completion of pre-placement medical evaluation.

Why you’ll like working with us:

At the Wyss Institute, you’re a member of a supportive, dynamic community that is united by its shared goal of changing the world through groundbreaking technology development and commercialization. We encourage your professional growth and development through mentorship and tuition reimbursement to support continued learning, and more. We also support your physical, financial, and mental well-being through generous time off benefits, gym reimbursements, and other programs offered through Harvard. Our facility is located in a new, state-of-the-art life sciences building in the lively Fenway neighborhood, where you have access to multiple amenities including a roof top terrace with stunning views of Boston and proximity to numerous restaurants and cultural attractions.

Not ready to apply? Join our talent community to stay up to date on career information and the latest news from the Wyss Institute.

Work Format Details

This is an in-person position based on our campus in Boston.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website ( https://hr.harvard.edu/benefits-wellbeing ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

As a collaborative organization, we at the Wyss Institute know that great innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together to solve problems. As a result, we are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness both in and out of the lab. When recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you will bring in terms of education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. We believe these differences in background, experience, and perspective enrich our work environment and are essential to our mission of solving complex problems through technology development and translation.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Function

Research

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

RS0156 Researcher II Natural Science

Work Format

On-Site

Sub-Unit

Salary Grade 056

Department

Wyss Institute

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status

Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm