HDT Bio is pioneering technologies that direct the host immune system to treat or prevent cancer and infectious diseases. The Senior Scientist – Emerging Viruses in the virology team will be primarily responsible for designing and executing experiments in discovery- and application-based projects utilizing HDT’s RNA vaccine platform to develop vaccines and therapeutics against emerging viral pathogens. They will specifically contribute towards 1) identification of opportunities to leverage HDT’s RNA vaccine platform against emerging viral pathogens, 2) platform innovation and development of the RNA platform into areas such as RNA-encoded therapeutics, 3) leading key pre-clinical studies to advance candidate therapeutics towards human clinical trials. A successful candidate should have expertise in studying the pathogenesis, immunology and vaccinology of emerging viruses with demonstrated experience transitioning projects from in vitro concepts to in vivo model systems such as mouse and non-human primate models. Further, the candidate should have expertise in supporting collaborative projects through design and timely execution of key studies, accurate and thorough communication of research findings to diverse stakeholders and providing subject-area expertise to ensure project success. Their scientific know-how and critical thinking will help foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and scientific excellence in our team.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Provide subject-area expertise in emerging viruses to identify antigenic targets and design relevant pre-clinical animal studies to evaluate next-generation RNA vaccines and platforms
- Supervise lab personnel at multiple levels
- Establish and lead collaborations with leading researchers at external institutions to identify novel viral targets and understand mechanisms of vaccine protection
- Contribute to achieving company goals as a team player
- Demonstrate fundamental RNA molecular virology/biology techniques and knowledge
- Support method and model development, qualification, troubleshooting, and technology transfer as required
- Lead and perform in vitro and in vivo studies
- Keep detailed records of experimental methods and author reports that support regulatory submissions
- Contribute and author scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
Qualifications:
- Molecular biology expertise, including design and analysis of RNA-encoded proteins
- Experience with immunological techniques relevant to understanding vaccine immunogenicity such as ELISA, ELISpot, flow cytometry, ex vivo stimulations and intracellular cytokine staining and multiplex cytokine assays
- Virology expertise, particularly emerging RNA viruses in the bunyavirales order and associated techniques such as virus propagation, virus titration, neutralization assays, pseudotyped viruses, viral RNA quantification and viral protein expression
- Expertise in small rodent handling and associated experimental techniques for evaluating host immune responses to vaccines and therapies
- Publication record in peer-reviewed journals
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot scientific problems with appropriately designed experimentation
- Scientific creativity, collaborative ability, management of a research team and excellent written and verbal communication skills
Education:
- PhD degree with 5+ years of experience in areas of vaccinology and RNA virology/biology
This summary describes a portion of the essential functions/responsibilities of this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all job duties. Management reserves the right to modify the duties of this position as necessary.
HDT Bio is a vaccine and immunotherapy Biotechnology company with next-generation approaches designed to enable the body’s immune system to prevent and cure disease. We have engineered our technologies to Access, Activate, and Amplify the immune system’s natural ability to create antibodies and T-cells that fight cancer and infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. We are developing multiple product candidates from our proprietary discovery platforms, including LION™, which has the potential to provide health benefits to a broad patient population.
HDT Bio offers a comprehensive compensation plan which includes health insurance for employees and dependents (inclusive of multiple plants to choose from, including a $0 premium plan with HSA and company contribution), generous PTO (11 observed holidays and week-long year-end closure), stock options with Carta Tax Advisory for equity and tax support, flexible spending accounts (FSAs), commuting benefits (ORCA or paid parking), and retirement benefits with company match.
HDT Bio Corp. is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. This environment is encouraged by HDT's culture, which supports women in science through our Women+ group, creates inclusive events to highlight the diverse cultures represented by our staff, and with the adoption of an open office environment for all. Qualified applicants of any race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran, or disability status are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to these or any other actual or perceived statuses.
