Senior Scientist / Principal Scientist, Biotherapeutic Engineering

Xilio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing tumor-activated immuno-oncology (I-O) therapies with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for people living with cancer without the systemic side effects of current I-O treatments. The company is using its proprietary platform to advance a pipeline of novel, tumor-activated clinical and preclinical I-O molecules that are designed to optimize their therapeutic index by localizing anti-tumor activity within the tumor microenvironment, including tumor-activated cytokines and antibodies (including bispecifics) and immune cell engagers (including tumor-activated cell engagers and tumor-activated effector-enhanced cell engagers). Learn more by visiting www.xiliotx.com and follow us on LinkedIn (Xilio Therapeutics, Inc.)

SUMMARY: 

Xilio Therapeutics is seeking an experienced and initiative-taking individual to help build internal discovery capabilities using display technologies. This hands-on position involves generation and screening of antibodies, proteins, and peptides to be used in the company's conditional scaffolds for the development of novel tumor activated therapeutics. This is a high-impact position with the potential to shape the future trajectory of the company. The ideal candidate will have hands on experience in display technologies such as phage and/or mammalian/yeast, and necessary molecular biology techniques.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Build strategies for selection and screening of mAbs, protein domains and peptides using display from synthetic libraries (i.e. Phage display)
  • Design and optimize strategies to lift immune repertoires from immunized animals to create immune libraries, manage and manipulate these libraries to isolate mAbs, sdAbs with large diversity.
  • Generate libraries for display platforms for therapeutic optimizations such as affinity maturation, potency, and stability enhancements of antibodies, proteins, and peptides.
  • Conduct in vitro discovery campaigns using phage dispay (added bonus yeast/mammalian display also)
  • Conduct/lead campaigns utilizing display, and single B-cell platforms towards mAb, and peptide discovery.
  • Design and execute strategies to amplify and clone antibody variable regions, protein domains or peptides from display libraries into final therapeutic format.
  • Able to manage CROs and build workplans for synthetic library generation and/or animal immunizations.
  • Lead/co-lead core discovery teams
  • Represent Protein Engineering function at project team and group meetings.
  • Maintain Laboratory stocks and reagents and serve as a mentor to junior staff.
  • Keeps a detailed and well-organized electronic laboratory notebook.
  • Stays current with literature and emerging trends in the discipline.

Skills, Qualifications, and Requirements:

  • PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Structural Biology, or related field
  • BA + 7-10 years or MS + 4-7 years of experience in an antibody discovery team in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
  • Firsthand experience in mAb discovery platforms such as display, and/or single B-cell is required.
  • Phage displace experience required. Yeast/mammalian (including FACS analysis and sorting) desired.
  • Experience with prokaryotic or eukaryotic display technologies
  • Expertise in molecular biology techniques (PCR, cloning, primer design, plasmid preparation, etc.) is required.
  • Handling and manipulation of cell cultures is required.
  • Working knowledge of high-throughput plate-based processes is desirable
  • Experience with plate-based expression in bacterial and/or yeast/mammalian cultures is desirable.
  • DNA sequence analysis/editing is desirable.
  • Familiarity with formatting scFvs and VHH/nanobodies/sdAbs is desirable.
  • Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment. Ability to work on multiple projects in parallel to deliver results in rapid timeframes.
  • Critical thinking, prioritization of tasks, attention to detail and troubleshooting.
  • Creativity in approaches to complex problems and desire to expand technical skill set.
  • Timely delivery of team goals and ability to build productive relationships with colleagues across a research organization.
  • Experience leading discovery/research project teams a plus.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Xilio Therapeutics, we foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion.  We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.  We will make reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, for qualified individuals with known disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who requires accommodation with the hiring process or to perform any essential functions of the position for which you are applying, please reach out to careers@xiliotx.com.

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