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Senior Associate Scientist

Boston, MA

About us:

Ascidian is redefining the treatment of disease by rewriting RNA.

Ascidian Therapeutics was founded to rewrite RNA by editing and replacing human exons. We were inspired by ocean creatures, called Ascidians, who are primordial ancestors of vertebrates. To grow from larvae to adults, ascidians re-engineer their transcriptome through RNA editing via trans-splicing and alternative splicing.

In our Brighton/Boston labs, RNA biology meets today’s cutting-edge genomics, computational biology, and deep-sequencing technologies to create a new class of medicines that address the underlying causes of disease. We welcome you to come join our vibrant team and help us lead the way into a new gene therapy era.

Senior Associate Scientist

We are seeking a motivated, organized, and enthusiastic Senior Associate Scientist to join Ascidian’s team. Working closely with our other R&D Scientists and Associates, you will help establish and validate molecular biology and protein biochemistry assays that will be critical to our gene therapy discovery platform.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with and learn from a variety of teams in a small, fast-paced biotechnology company. The successful candidate is able to work effectively in a team-oriented environment and is accustomed to delivering high-quality data on a timeline.

Responsibilities include:

  • Become a critical part of our gene therapy research workflow
  • Plan and execute a variety of biochemistry and molecular biology assays to support drug development programs
  • Maintain cell cultures and conduct cellular assays
  • Perform independent data analysis and electronic notebook record keeping
  • Collaborate and communicate across a diverse research team to progress scientific goals
  • Support the creation and expansion of the company’s intellectual property
  • Help create an entrepreneurial and creative culture that will deliver transformational therapies to patients

Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

  • BS or MS in Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline and 2-5 years of laboratory research experience
  • Expertise in cell and molecular biology techniques including:
    • Nucleic acid preparation (DNA, RNA) and analysis (primer design, qPCR/ddPCR)
    • Protein biochemistry and enzyme activity assays (Extraction, Western blot, etc.)
    • Cell culture and cell-based functional assays
    • Molecular cloning (e.g., traditional, Golden Gate, Gibson, etc.)
    • Molecular biology design tools (e.g., Benchling, SnapGene, etc.)
  • Experience in NGS processes is a plus
  • Passion for working at the bench to advance programs and solve technical challenges
  • Self-motivation and adaptability to evolving project priorities and responsibilities
  • Effective communication and organizational skills
  • Team-oriented, with a strong work ethic

 

Benefits:

We provide a vibrant startup environment where every employee contributes to our culture and science. We offer a generous total rewards plan that includes competitive compensation, stock options, and benefits. Our benefits include a top-tier health and wellness plan, commuter reimbursement or paid monthly parking, tuition or loan reimbursement, career development opportunities and so much more.

A final note - we highly encourage you to apply for our position, even if you are not sure you meet all the requirements. Everyone has unique talents, and at Ascidian, we look not only at your experience but your potential. We know that the best teams consist of diverse backgrounds, so please apply!

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