Evox Therapeutics is harnessing and engineering the natural trafficking capabilities of extracellular vesicles to develop an entirely novel class of biotherapeutics.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Department: Research
Reports to: Group Leader
Direct Reports: O
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
The role will be an integral part of the Research Department, playing a key role in advancing Genome Editing technology, delivered by exosomes, towards pre-clinical and clinical studies. The successful candidate will apply various loading strategies to deliver Genome Editing therapeutics, contributing to the development of a new class of biotherapeutic products. Additionally, they will be responsible for evaluating the uptake, distribution, efficacy, and specificity of the loaded material in disease-relevant models.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
The candidate will work in a collaborative matrix structure, working closely with the R&D team. The key responsibilities will include:
* Engineer extracellular vesicles to carry gene editing modalities to be delivered to CNS.
* Perform extensive analysis of the product for quantification of editor/guides using various analytical techniques.
* Validate the Genome Ediitor delivery in vitro, using relevant cell lines and analytical tools for the gene editing read-outs (testing uptake, distribution, efficacy, specificity)
* Identify relevant in vitro models and perform bridging studies to map the translatability of the product from in vitro to in vivo
* Analyse, summarise, and document experimental results, as well as being able to communicate them effectively in meetings
* Test and troubleshoot new assays and techniques and propose next steps
PERSON SPECIFICATION
* PhD, MSc, or equivalent experience in molecular/cellular biology, Neuroscience or related biological sciences
* Extensive experience in using various cellular models (such as iPSCs), and performing cellular uptake assays (experience with gene editing tools will be advantageous)
* Strong collaborative and team-oriented mindset
* Good conceptual, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills
* Ability to be self-motivated and work within a fast-paced team environment, achieve deadlines, and be able to prioritize tasks to meet the business needs
* Excellent communication & interpersonal skills
* Open-minded, with a high level of attention to detail, and dedicated to ensuring quality and compliance are delivered in line with company standards
Experience & knowledge
Essential Skills:
* Expertise in cell culture manipulation, maintenance, and transfection, along with molecular characterization of edited cells
* Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA purification, DNA sequence analysis, PCR, cloning, qPCR, FACS, ICC, and Western blotting
* Hands-on experience with gene editing technologies or experience working with extracellular vesicles (EVs)
* Experience using sequence manipulation software (e.g., Vector NTI, SnapGene)
* Eagerness to learn and explore emerging scientific fields
* Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and meet deadlines
Beneficial Skills:
* Background knowledge in neuroscience or neurological diseases
* Hands-on experience with pre-clinical models in the CNS field
* Previous experience in an industry setting
* Knowledge of exosome or lipid nanoparticle-based therapeutics
* Experience working with iPSC-derived neurons
* Familiarity with gRNA design and off-target mapping tools