Senior Scientist

Would you like to play an intricate role in a company? Be a part of something from the ground floor and really make a difference. If so, join us at Confluence Therapeutics.

We are looking for top talent to join our team from the beginning to help with developing a novel platform of oligonucleotide therapeutics for diseases of the CNS and other therapeutic areas with significant unmet needs. Our mission requires strategic thinking, nimbleness, and deep expertise in several areas including neurobiology, RNA biology, oligonucleotide chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology. This new startup company is recruiting talented, experienced, and passionate individuals who are looking to meaningfully contribute to the creation of new medicines. Confluence is a fast-paced, dynamic environment where the teammates will have broad exposure to many aspects of drug development. The company is backed by top blue-chip venture investors, Venrock and Osage University Partners. We are rapidly building the Company and are looking for scientists to join us on this mission.

Confluence Therapeutics is located in South San Francisco, CA in the heart of the Biotech Bay. We are currently seeking an exceptional individual to join our team as a Senior Scientist. In this laboratory-based position, the successful candidate will develop cellular assays and generate data to identify the optimal oligonucleotide candidate for the lead program.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and execute cell- and tissue-based assays, analyze and interpret data to support discovery and preclinical development using a variety of readouts (e.g., fluorescence, luminescence, qPCR)
• Optimization of oligonucleotide modifications based on structure-activity relationship
• Work with a diverse team of wet-lab scientists and external collaborators to generate key datasets that are critical for the declaration of development candidates
• Develop and validate PD biomarkers that can be applied both preclinically and clinically
• Build and conduct validation assays to demonstrate proof-of-concept of a new platform in therapeutically relevant areas
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation of experimental results for study reports and regulatory submissions
• Regular presentation of results and interpretation at team meetings

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in RNA biology, neurobiology, or oligonucleotide chemistry (or a relevant scientific discipline) with 6+ years of experience in drug development or related field
• In-depth expertise in neurobiology and/or oligonucleotide chemistry in a drug discovery setting
• Experience with histopathology, immunohistochemistry/fluorescence, and in situ hybridization
• Experience with preparation of final research documents and slides to support regulatory filings (e.g., IND) and partnering efforts
• Extensive knowledge of and experience with pharmacology, PK-PD relationships, and interrogating molecular target engagement and downstream physiological endpoints
• Hands-on experience with molecular biology including qPCR, western blots, and plate-based immunoassays (e.g., ELISA, MSD, Luminex)
• Experience and strong capabilities in managing, developing, and mentoring junior scientists and research associates
• Evidence of independent scientific ability and a track record of scientific accomplishments through publications, patents, and presentations
• Creativity and the ability to lead, work and debate constructively within an interdisciplinary team to achieve technical success and corporate milestones
• Strong experience in experimental design and troubleshooting skills, and excellent data analysis, mining, QC metrics, and statistics capabilities (e.g., Graphpad Prism)
• Results-oriented individual with exceptional organization, attention to detail, scientific versatility, flexibility, critical thinking, and communication skills

Confluence Therapeutics is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and strives to build a diverse and inclusive team. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.