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Senior Scientist, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Lexington, MA

About Voyager Therapeutics

Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYGR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to leveraging the power of human genetics to modify the course of – and ultimately cure – neurological diseases. Our pipeline includes programs for Alzheimer’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple other diseases of the central nervous system. Many of our programs are derived from our TRACER™ AAV capsid discovery platform, which we have used to generate novel capsids and identify associated receptors to potentially enable high brain penetration with genetic medicines following intravenous dosing. Some of our programs are wholly owned, and some are advancing with partners including Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease; Novartis Pharma AG; and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.voyagertherapeutics.com.
Voyager Therapeutics® is a registered trademark, and TRACER™ is a trademark, of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. 

Job Summary

Voyager Therapeutics is seeking a motivated Senior Scientist*, Oligonucleotide Chemistry to join our growing Non-Viral Team. This role will work cross-functionally with the Protein Science, Bioconjugation, Protein Engineering and downstream CMC groups to drive the discovery, optimization and development of therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and/or siRNAs candidates to enable Voyager’s brain-penetrant antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) pipeline. This position is an opportunity to establish capabilities that will contribute to the advancement of Voyager’s growing pipeline of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, synthesize, and optimize ASOs and/or siRNAs to produce candidate oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, including optimization of nucleic acid constructs for improved stability, delivery, and efficacy
  • Implement a strategy to bring critical infrastructure and capabilities in-house to support the synthesis and characterization of oligonucleotides
  • Critical evaluation and optimization of the processes to improve synthesis yield, purity and timelines for production of modified oligonucleotides
  • Contribute to the growth of Voyager’s AOC pipeline by delivering on critical platform and program goals related to oligonucleotide delivery to the CNS
  • Partner with Bioconjugation and Technical Operation groups to ensure scalability and manufacturability of candidate oligonucleotides from Research to Development
  • Stay current with emerging trends in therapeutic oligonucleotide chemistry and contribute to IP filings and publications
  • Manage a network of external contract research organizations (CROs), to strengthen critical capabilities and provide access to scalable synthesis capacity

Qualifications

  • PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or related field
  • 5+ years of industry experience in therapeutic oligonucleotide discovery
  • Direct hands-on experience with in ASO and siRNA chemistry, including synthesis, modification, and conjugation
  • Proven track record in designing and applying novel base pair modifications to enhance oligonucleotide properties
  • Direct hands-on experience with analytical characterization techniques for assessing oligonucleotides and AOCs (e.g. HPLC, LC-MS/MS, in vitro activity screens, etc.)
  • Hands-on experience establishing an oligonucleotide chemistry lab is desired
  • Prior experience managing contract research organizations (CROs) for the synthesis and characterization of oligonucleotides is desired
  • Outstanding analytical, research and organizational skills
  • Self-motivated with an ability to handle multiple projects, meet deadlines and make decisions
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills 

*Position level determined by candidate experience, qualifications, and competencies

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