Principal Scientist

The Role

LoQus23 Therapeutics is a cutting-edge biotech company founded a couple of years ago to target DNA damage repair proteins to treat trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases. We are working with world-class academic scientists and contract research organisations to progress small-molecule therapeutics into the clinic. We have built a platform of assays relevant to key targets and disease biology including Huntington’s and Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. We are expanding our team and have an opening for a Principal Scientist with experience in preclinical drug discovery. Preferred areas of expertise include DNA damage repair proteins and/or repeat expansion disease biology.
The Principal Scientist will be located in our offices on the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge and will work to support the progression of our projects. The role is largely office based, and the successful candidate will work with our network of collaborators and contract research organisations to generate data and progress our programmes. Depending on project requirements, the successful candidate may also generate internal in vitro data via use of communal lab facilities at Babraham. The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of pharmacology or closely related discipline, a keen eye for detail and good data analytical skills. Experience of working in an outsourced environment will also be beneficial.
This is a great opportunity to join a small, friendly, and dynamic team at the cutting edge of neurodegeneration drug discovery, and to be involved in projects from very early exploratory through to early clinical development.

Responsibilities

• Build a strong, working collaboration with our key academic and CRO collaborators to define workplans and screen sequences to support ongoing projects
• Critically analyse pharmacology and biology data generated by partners to ensure data quality
• Manage experimental output data in the LoQus23 Therapeutics database
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the LoQus23 team and expert consultants
• Communicate efficiently, interpret and summarise data for presentation to different audiences
• Proactively identify potential new projects and partners to support ongoing and new project activities
• Lab-based activities as and when required.

Experience & Requirements

Essential

• A PhD in a relevant scientific discipline (or industry equivalent)
• At least 3 years post-doctoral experience (or industry equivalent)
• Experience of drug discovery gained in a pharma or biotech setting
• Experience working in academic/industrial partnerships
• Strong knowledge of in vitro pharmacology or related discipline; DNA damage repair or repeat expansion disease biology
• Attention to detail and a quality-focused mindset
• A team player who proactively and directly communicates and collaborates with other team members
• Lab-based skills could include a range of in vitro molecular/cellular biology expertise, DNA damage-repair assays

Desirable

• Experience in working with contract research organisations in an outsourced environment
• Experience of in vitro and in vivo models relevant to DNA damage repair and/or trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases

Salary & Benefits

Full-time permanent position
Competitive salary dependent on skills and prior experience
Competitive benefits package
Flexible working hours and opportunity to work from home