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Scientist III

London, UK

Job Type

Full Time

Workspace

hybrid, minimum of two days on-site per week

About the Role

As a Scientist III (Principal Scientist), you will lead scientific research and development in nucleic acid chemistry, with a focus on aptamer design, chemical modification strategies and stability studies. You will drive experimental studies aimed at understanding and improving the stability of nucleic acid-based aptamers for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. You will have deep expertise in nucleic acid design and chemistry, ability to recommend innovative ways to design aptamer sequences with chemical modifications to enhance their performance, extensive experience designing, executing and interpreting stability studies in vitro and in vivo. Working with the PentaBind team, you will have the opportunity to work on state-of-the-art high-throughput platforms, automation and other biophysical studies. This role is ideally suited for a motivated experimental scientist who is passionate about pharmaceuticals and technology.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Aptamer Stability Studies:

    • Design and execute experiments to evaluate the stability of nucleic acid aptamers under various conditions, including thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation.

    • Develop and optimise protocols for assessing aptamer stability in biologically relevant environments (e.g., serum, plasma, subcellular organelles, nucleases, tissue matrices).

    • Utilise analytical techniques such as gel electrophoresis/tapestation, next generation sequencing, qPCR, UV-spectroscopy, HPLC and mass spectrometry to monitor and quantify aptamer degradation.

  2. Chemical Modification and Optimisation:

    • Apply expertise in nucleic acid chemistry to recommend and implement chemical modifications (e.g., backbone modifications, sugar modifications, base modifications) to improve aptamer stability, binding affinity, and functionality.

    • Innovate novel modification strategies to enhance the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of aptamers for therapeutic applications.

    • Evaluate and determine the effects of chemical modifications on aptamer-target interactions, bioavailability and pharmacology.

  3. Experimental Design and Data Interpretation:

    • Analyse and interpret experimental data, providing clear conclusions and recommendations to internal teams.

    • Collaborate with the ML scientists, drug discovery, assay development and chemistry teams to integrate experimental data into aptamer design and development processes.

  4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

    • Provide scientific leadership in project meetings, offering insights and strategies to drive the development of stable, functional aptamers from discovery through preclinical and clinical stages.

  5. Innovation and Technology Development:

    • Stay current with advancements in nucleic acid chemistry, aptamer technology, and chemical modification techniques through literature review and conference participation.

    • Contribute to the development of new technologies and methods to improve the stability, efficacy, and delivery of nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

    • Lead efforts in intellectual property generation, including patents and publications in high-impact journals.

  6. Project Leadership and Management:

    • Oversee multiple projects, ensuring they are completed within scope, budget, and timeline while maintaining high-quality scientific outcomes.

    • Supervise and mentor junior and senior scientists, fostering a collaborative, innovative research environment.

    • Oversee daily scientific and technical operations of the laboratory.

    • Communicate project progress and findings to internal stakeholders, senior leadership, and external collaborators.

Ideal Candidate

  • PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field, with a strong emphasis on nucleic acid chemistry.

  • 6-8 years of experience in the life sciences, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.

  • Expertise in nucleic acids, oligonucleotide chemistry, oligonucleotide pharmacokinetic studies.

  • Strong proficiency in analytical techniques such as NGS, HPLC, MS, and spectroscopy (e.g., NMR) for the characterisation of nucleic acid structures and degradation products.

  • Experience designing, executing, and interpreting complex stability studies in vitro and in vivo.

  • Excellent data analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound recommendations based on experimental outcomes and communicate complex scientific findings effectively.

  • Strong leadership and project management skills, with a history of successfully leading R&D projects.

  • English language speaking, listening and writing fluency.

Desired Candidate

  • Experience with therapeutic aptamers, oligonucleotides, or other nucleic acid-based therapeutics in a drug discovery setting.

  • Familiarity with delivery systems for nucleic acids, such as lipid nanoparticles or conjugates.

About the Company

Read more about PentaBind, our culture and what to expect via the button below.

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