Company Summary:

Empress Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company pioneering Co-Evolved MoleculesTM, which represent elite starting points for drug development, and new molecular insights into health and disease.

The Empression™ product platform uses artificial intelligence and principles from co-evolution and pharmacology to harness patient data and uncover novel disease insights and drug candidates.  Our mission is to turn Co-Evolved Molecules^TM into products that can diagnose, prevent, and treat a wide range of serious diseases.

Empress Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in Flagship’s venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MRNA), Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY), and Editas Medicines (NASDAQ: EDIT) were conceived and created.  Since Flagship’s founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of nearly 100 scientific ventures resulting in $19+ billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents, and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents. 

Position Summary:

We are seeking a motivated and innovative Scientist/Senior Scientist to join our Discovery Biology group to use transcriptomic tools and complement our suite of translational in vitro assays for bioactivity and MoA interrogation.

The ideal candidate should have extensive experience with independent and unsupervised use of transcriptomic approach and hands on wet-lab execution to data analysis, visualisation, and interpretation. Well versed, with the use of transcriptomic approach in the in-vitro setting of studies related to immunology, oncology, or epithelial cell biology. Familiar with studying mechanism of action and pathway interrogation.

You will play an instrumental role in designing and executing experiments used for MoA interrogation and Target ID/validation using RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, RNAi, and CRISPR-cas9 approaches. The successful candidate will have great entrepreneurial orientation, excellent communication skills and be a team player comfortable working in and contributing to a dynamic multi-disciplinary team environment. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Use transcriptomics approach to generate mechanistic hypotheses and bioactivity insights.
• Execute cutting-edge transcriptomics-based studies to deconvolute Co-Evolved Molecule’s target specificity and MoA in collaboration with the immunology group.
• Contribute creatively to the company’s R&D strategy, helping drive actionable biological hypotheses.
• Identify emerging methods and tools and biology approaches and implement when applicable.
• Collaborate closely with other Empress scientists and research associates.
• Work with external research parties and relationships including academic collaborators and CROs.
• Report results to scientific leadership team and management

Key Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biological Engineering, or related field with 2+ years of post-graduate research experience.
• Extensive experience using transcriptomics approaches to interrogate biological mechanisms in vitro in the context of immune cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, different cell lines or organoids.
• Advanced hands-on wet lab techniques required, including sample and transcriptomic library preparations, QC for transcriptomic analysis with bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq systems such as 10x Genomics.
• Well versed with the use of knockdown tools, small molecule inhibitors and pathway perturbagens for pathway interrogation.
• Ability to operate independently without supervision
• Proficiency with data visualizations and pathway analysis tools.
• Must have excellent organizational skills and attention to details.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Capable of conveying technical information in a clear and concise thorough manner.
• Flexible team player with Intellectual curiosity and proclivity for entrepreneurial spirit with creative productivity.