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.
ShapeTX is looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong passion for learning to join the growing Research team as Scientist, Neurobiology. In this role, the successful candidate will design and execute in vitro cell-based assays to evaluate ShapeTX’s novel RNAfixTM and RNAskipTM technology platforms. An ideal candidate will have broad neurobiology experience, a collaborative spirit and a desire to work in a fast-paced startup environment.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Independently plan and execute rigorous and well-controlled experiments
- Conceptualize and develop models of disease-specific pathologies in vitro
- Use CRISPR/Cas9 to engineer disease-relevant cell lines and model systems
- Design and utilize reporter-based and functional screening tools to select candidates
- Collaborate with technology development and delivery sciences teams to optimize vector design
- Screen candidate therapeutics in disease-specific neuronal cell lines, primary neural cells, and/or iPSC-derived neural cell types
- Apply learnings from in vitro models to future in vivo studies in collaboration with the in vivo pharmacology team
- Analyze and communicate results in written and oral presentations
Requirements:
Preferred Qualifications:
- PhD in neurobiology, cell biology, or a related life science discipline
- Demonstrated scientific rigor through peer-reviewed publications or documented contributions to drug discovery project teams
- Ability to work 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 cell culture experience: culturing, maintaining and differentiating neuronal cell lines, primary cells, and/or iPSC lines into neural cell types
- Experience with molecular biology techniques and analysis (DNA/RNA purification, CRISPR/Cas9, Sanger sequencing, qPCR, ddPCR, etc.)
- Experience with protein analysis techniques (ELISA, Western blotting, Flow cytometry, etc.)
- Ability to troubleshoot and think analytically
- Stellar work ethic
- A collaborative, team player and good lab citizen
- Passion for benchwork
- Demonstrates initiative
- Exquisite attention to detail and organization
- Effective and proactive communication
- Ability to multitask and support multiple projects simultaneously
Shape Life!