Scientist I/II, Neuroscience

Research – Neuroscience            ·            Cambridge, MA             ·          Full time 

About Voyager Therapeutics 

Voyager Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VYGR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to breaking through barriers in gene therapy and neurology. The potential of both disciplines has been constrained by delivery challenges; Voyager is leveraging cutting-edge expertise in capsid discovery and deep neuropharmacology capabilities to address these constraints. Voyager’s TRACER™ AAV capsid discovery platform has generated novel capsids with high target delivery and blood-brain barrier penetration at low doses, potentially addressing the narrow therapeutic window associated with conventional gene therapy delivery vectors. This platform is fueling alliances with Pfizer Inc., Novartis Pharma AG, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., and Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., as well as multiple programs in Voyager’s own pipeline. Voyager’s pipeline includes wholly owned and collaborative preclinical programs in Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and other diseases of the central nervous system, with a focus on validated targets and biomarkers to enable a path to rapid potential proof-of-biology. For more information, visit www.voyagertherapeutics.com.

Voyager Therapeutics® is a registered trademark, and TRACER™ is a trademark, of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist I/II to contribute to our Neuroscience team at our facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is an ideal position for an individual with hands-on experience supporting programs from in vitro target validation to in vivo development candidate nomination who thrives in a team-oriented, fast-paced, and cross-disciplinary start-up biotech environment. The individual will have the ability to work independently in the laboratory and be responsible for experimental execution of research studies supporting cutting edge therapeutic programs and platform discovery research in neurodegenerative disease areas.   The ideal candidate would have the ability to independently conduct both in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies/analysis.

The Scientist I/II will support target validation using cell culture with RT-qPCR, ddPCR, binding assays such as Octet/Biacore, activity assays, western blot and/or immunocytochemistry as readouts. In this position, you will independently design and execute rodent in vivo experiments to support Development Candidate nomination following the in vitro target identification. Lastly, the Scientist I/II will bring their ex vivo expertise to process the tissues from the in vivo studies, likely with assays such as ddPCR, RT-qPCR, binding assays, activity assays, and/or immunohistochemistry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, execute experiments, analyze data, and write reports (both written and verbal) for AAV platform discovery research.
• Perform cell culture for multiple cell lines to support in vitro target engagement.
• Conduct analysis including various DNA, mRNA and protein assays from both tissue and cell culture.
• Design and execute rodent in vivo experiments.
• Conducts ex vivo tissue, CSF and serum analysis (ELISA, western blot, RT-qPCR, etc.)
• Performs data analyses independently as well as delivers effective data presentations to the research teams.
• Ensures maintenance of industry-quality records to provide documentation.

Qualifications

• A PhD degree with 0-2+ years, MS with 7+ years or BS with 8+ years’ experience in the field of Neuroscience, Pharmacology or related discipline is required.  
• Strong background in cell culture, in vivo experimental methods, and readouts.
• Hands-on experience with molecular and cellular techniques including ELISA, RT-qPCR, ddPCR, and biochemical assay development.
• Outstanding problem-solving skills
• Ability to read and interpret the literature to support advancement of programs and/or platform discovery research.
• Ability to be highly productive in a fluid and fast-paced work environment.
• Good communication skills and ability to multi-task.
• Ability to analyze and present data independently to the research teams.
• Strong commitment to accountability for completion of projects in accordance with team and company plans.
• Excellent organizational skill and attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a team-oriented, fast-paced, and cross-disciplinary start-up biotech environment.

Preferred Experiences

• Strong preference for a candidate with experience in AAV gene therapy
• Prior related experience, ideally with a biotechnology or other life sciences company, is preferred but not required.
• Prior experience in drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases would be preferred.

Please click here to apply.