Scientist, Cell Biology, Oncology, Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Company Overview

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Arpeggio Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company using high-throughput transcriptomics to identify modulators of drug targets for the treatment of cancer. Using this unique approach, we have recently discovered a novel molecular glue degrader of the oncogenic transcription factor, Nrf2, which drives cancer progression in a large number of cancer types. Arpeggio is currently focused on defining the patient populations that will be most impacted by such a therapy by using a compendium of cell-based and biophysical approaches. We believe this work to be imperative for lead selection and will support future regulatory filings. 

Position Summary

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This role is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and energetic scientist to apply their expertise in cell biology and cancer to the discovery of small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of various cancer indications. The candidate will be a key member of the program team, directly responsible for elucidating the biology around our targets to confirm their therapeutic utility and inform on a clinical strategy. These efforts will include the design and execution of experiments (biochemical and cell-based) to validate the therapeutic relevance of specific mechanisms of action, identify or confirm target patient populations, predict potential mechanisms of resistance or sensitivity, and evaluate drug combination opportunities.

Responsibilities

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• Apply molecular, cellular, and chemical biology techniques to elucidate the mechanisms of action of various small molecule agents. This knowledge will directly contribute to defining the therapeutic utility of these compounds including cancer indication and patient selection strategies
• Employ molecular genetic techniques to build cellular models of disease for compound profiling
• Employ cell biology approaches to define the mechanistic and functional consequences of compound treatment to define genetic and lineage-specific dependencies of the mechanisms of action being evaluated in both cancer cell lines and primary cells
• Analyze and interpret resultant data in a highly rigorous fashion to inform on the design of follow-on experiments to further refine our understanding of target biology and guide future strategic direction
• Provide strategic and/or technical support to various project teams as necessary
• Contribute to written and oral presentations for both internal and external purposes
• Share expertise with organization, particularly in a mentoring/teaching capacity

Experience

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• PhD with a minimum of 3 years of post-graduate experience in the field of cell biology and/or cancer biology 
• 2+ years of industry experience in small molecule drug discovery and/or translational sciences preferred
• Familiarity with the evaluation of molecular glues and/or targeted degraders would be a plus
• Ability to design and execute experiments with a high degree of rigor and independence 
• Strong experience in tissue culture techniques including primary and established cell lines, 2D and 3D culture 
• Well-versed in a variety of molecular biology techniques including DNA/RNA purification, PCR, and qRT-PCR
• Expertise in genetic manipulation of cells such as transient transfection, viral transduction, stable cell line generation, CRISPR and shRNA-mediated gene knockdown
• Proficiency in standard cell-biology techniques such as western blotting, ELISAs, cell proliferation, fluorescent microscopy, and flow cytometry
• Strong computer skills including MS Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint) as well as basic statistical analysis software (e.g. PRISM, ExcelFit)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment with flexibility and a willingness to take on new challenges