Associate Scientist, I/O-Inflammation

Company Background

Codiak is the leader in the emerging field of exosome therapeutics, working to harness the power of this cellular messenger system to create potentially life-changing medicines. A venture-backed startup founded in 2015, Codiak has rapidly built a proprietary technology platform for exosome engineering and manufacturing that allows for precise targeting of important molecular pathways, opening the door to the development of therapies for cancer and other diseases. Led by an experienced and dedicated team, Codiak has at its foundation a positive and collaborative culture that is deeply rooted in cutting edge science and promotes opportunity for growth.

Position Description

Codiak BioSciences is seeking an experienced Associate Scientist to join our growing team and help us to fully develop the therapeutic potential of exosomes. The successful candidate will support the development of exosome-based therapies that address significant unmet medical needs in Immuno-Oncology and Inflammation. Responsibilities include designing and executing a variety of molecular and cellular immunology assays to evaluate innate and adaptive immune responses to engineered exosomes. This position will involve the close coordination of efforts with scientists in immunology, exosome biochemistry, and in vivo pharmacology, as well as participation in experiment design and execution, and data generation and analysis. The candidate will be responsible for communication of findings to the research team and active participation in project teams.  We are developing a novel therapeutic platform, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to join us on this exciting journey.

Responsibilities

1. Collaborate with internal teams to perform cellular immunology experiments to evaluate exosome-induced immune responses
2. Isolate, sort, culture, and characterize primary immune cells from human and animal blood and tissues
3. Conduct cell-based assay development and optimization using both primary immune cells and cell lines
4. Perform standard molecular biology assays, including PCR, RT-PCR, ELISA, western blotting, and bead-based immunoassays to assess effects of exosomes and therapeutic nucleic acids on innate and adaptive immune responses
5. Develop and validate cellular models to verify target engagement of therapeutic exosomes
6. Deliver high-quality data to inform all stages of drug discovery
7. Execute, troubleshoot, and optimize standard protocols, and survey scientific literature to inform the development of additional assays as needed
8. Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and instrumentation
9. Document experimental results in electronic laboratory notebook and written reports
10. Participate in, and present at, research group and project team meetings
11. Prepare and order necessary reagents, solutions, consumables and other laboratory supplies
12. Comply with laboratory safety procedures

Qualifications

• BS/MS or equivalent degree and 2-6 years of relevant experience in an academic or industrial setting

Required Skills:

• Experience in primary immune cell isolation and culture, cell counting, and viability assays
• Experience with common immunologic techniques, such as immune cell activation, proliferation, cytokine profiling, and reporter assays
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with multicolor flow cytometry
• Expertise in tissue/cell culture techniques, including the cultivation, transfection, and archiving of mammalian cells
• Passionate about scientific discovery, self-motivated, and eager to learn new skills and contribute to the success of the organization
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and critical thinking skills, and the ability to thrive in an interdependent and idea-rich environment
• Strong work ethic and attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with RNA interference and genome editing
• Experience with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and magnetic automated cell sorting (MACS) 
• Experience working in a Biosafety Level 2+ environment
• Ability to identify and troubleshoot critical issues associated with innate and adaptive immune responses
• Familiarity with Luminex, AlphaLISA, and capillary western blotting platforms
• Experience with standard molecular biology techniques, including DNA cloning, PCR, and RT-PCR

Experience with animal models of disease

Compensation & Benefits

Codiak provides competitive compensation and benefits package that support and reward the contributions of each member of the team.

Apply Today!

Those interested in joining the team effort at Codiak BioSciences to advance the nascent and exciting field of exosome technology into therapeutics with transformative potential are invited to email their CV.  To Apply:

https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=73c7870a-271e-4083-979f-eca102c4bd4e&jobId=250220&lang=en_US&source=CC2&ccId=19000101_000001

About Codiak

Forward Engineering on Nature’s Messenger System

Recent discoveries have demonstrated that exosomes derived from normal cells can act as a potent and safe delivery system for multiple therapeutic payloads. These small vesicles, which leave cells and travel throughout the body, can mediate dramatic effects in animal models of disease.

We are developing a broad platform for the delivery of macromolecules to the cytoplasm of diverse cells and tissues, to create a proprietary pipeline of novel, targeted medicines for diseases with high unmet medical need. The company’s technology exploits the natural propensity of exosomes to transmit macromolecule payloads between cells to create a pipeline of drugs across a broad range of diseases, including those associated with currently “undruggable” targets. While our initial focus is on oncology/immuno-oncology, this approach also offers significant potential in hematology, neurology and gene therapy  and other therapy areas.

We are now producing drug candidate exosomes using the engEx^TM platform, our novel therapeutic engine for exosomes. We tailor exosomes to express molecules on their surfaces and/or deliver specific cargo inside. This affords us the flexibility for designing proprietary drug candidates; exosomes can be mixed and matched into rational and targeted combinations with the potential for a broad therapeutic platform.

As of December 2017, Codiak has raised a combined $168.5M in Series A-C financing. The company maintains partnerships with academic exosome labs and has multiple paths to clinical and commercial success through the breadth of the company’s research, strength of its IP position and proprietary innovation behind its production capabilities.

Inspired Employees Create Great Science

Codiak’s CEO and first employee Doug Williams, Ph.D., (former EVP of Biogen R&D, CEO of ZymoGenetics) espouses the belief that inspired employees create great science. Employees treat the company as if it was their own and report that there is “direct and respectful communication,”  and “trust that teammates will do the right thing and never compromise integrity.”  

Named one of 11 disruptive startups “on a do-or-die mission to launch new meds” by Endpoints News in January 2018, Codiak is in the heart of Boston’s biotechnology hub at 500 Technology Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Website: www.codiakbio.com

Codiak BioSciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status.