Shape Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing next-generation RNA-targeted therapies to treat the world’s most challenging diseases. The ShapeTX technology platform includes RNAskip™, a proprietary suppressor tRNA technology that enables premature stop codon readthrough; RNAfixTM, a precision RNA editing technology using endogenous Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA (ADAR); and AAVidTM, a next-generation engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) platform producing highly specific, tissue-tropic AAVs. The power of the ShapeTX platforms resides in redirecting the cellular machinery already present in our cells, thereby bypassing the risks of immunogenicity and DNA damage seen with other contemporary editing technologies.
At ShapeTX, we are a dynamic team of professionals who are dedicated and passionate about making cures a reality. Through diversity of thought, scientific knowledge, professional rigor and focus we are merging cutting-edge science with extensive drug development expertise to unlock cures to many debilitating diseases. Shape Therapeutics is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with a satellite site in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Disease Biology Team at ShapeTX is seeking a cell culture expert for the role of Associate Scientist, New Target Assessment. In this position, you will design and execute in vitro cell-based assays to evaluate ShapeTX’s novel RNAfixTM and RNAskipTM technology platforms. The ideal candidate will have experience culturing, differentiating and maintaining a variety of cell lines, including iPSCs. Experience engineering cell lines using CRISPR/Cas systems is a plus. A strong work ethic, teachable spirit, and team-science mentality are essential. The Associate Scientist will collaborate closely with R&D scientists, and will directly contribute to the selection of disease targets and therapeutic candidates for pre-clinical development.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Routinely develop and optimize protocols for culturing, maintaining, and differentiating iPSC lines
- Design and lead the execution of well-controlled in vitro experiments to evaluate candidate RNAfixTM and RNAskipTM therapeutics
- Perform a broad range of cellular and molecular biology techniques (e.g., DNA isolation, RNA isolation, cDNA generation, qPCR, ddPCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, etc.)
- Keep appraised of current literature, bringing new ideas for early target assessment platforms and assay development to the team
- Contribute to disease target selection
- Contribute to in vitro pharmacology data packages and report writing to support IND applications
- Maintain organized and detailed records using an electronic laboratory notebook
- Compile and analyze data in a timely manner
- Actively participate on cross-functional project teams
Requirements:
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or Master's Degree in molecular and cellular biology or related discipline
- Demonstrated scientific rigor through peer-reviewed publications or documented contributions to drug discovery project teams
- 6+ years of experience in academic or drug discovery organizations
- Highly motivated researcher, comfortable with working both independently and collaboratively in a team-science environment
- Ability to think outside the box and tackle challenges with a problem-solving, can-do attitude
Skills and Experience:
- Extensive mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique expertise
- Experience culturing, maintaining and differentiating iPSC lines
- Expertise in hepatocyte/liver biology, lung epithelial cell biology and/or muscle cell biology
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Experience with advanced molecular and cell biology techniques
- Experience with protein analysis techniques (ELISA, Flow Cytometry, Western Blotting, etc.)
- Experience with biochemical techniques for RNA and protein analysis
- Familiarity with gene engineering tools and technologies (CRISPR/Cas9, ZFNs, etc.) and gene delivery (AAV vectors, etc.)
- Familiarity with monogenic rare disease research and genetic models of disease
Shape Life!