Ascidian Therapeutics, Inc.
Scientific Director (Preclinical Research) Boston, MA
Ascidian Therapeutics, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Scientific Director (Preclinical Research)
About us:Ascidian is redefining the treatment of disease by
rewriting RNA .Ascidian Therapeutics was founded to rewrite RNA by editing and replacing human exons. We were inspired by ocean creatures, called Ascidians, who are primordial ancestors of vertebrates. To grow from larvae to adults, ascidians re-engineer their transcriptome through RNA editing via trans-splicing and alternative splicing.In our Brighton/Boston labs, RNA biology meets today’s cutting-edge genomics, computational biology, and deep-sequencing technologies to create a new class of medicines that address the underlying causes of disease. We welcome you to come join our vibrant team and help us lead the way into a new gene therapy era.Who are we looking for?We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Scientific Director to lead an RNA editing program targeting highly unmet medical needs in rare disease. The successful candidate will have a strong background in drug discovery from target validation into early clinical development. You will have deep technical knowledge, a strategic mindset, and clear, forwarding-thinking leadership in preclinical models of human disease, establishing PK/PD relationships for gene therapy technologies, and a proven track record of successfully leading research programs from discovery into early clinical testing. As part of the Research Leadership team, you will lead a team of high-performing scientists to advance the current research pipeline, including taking the lead in preclinical IND enabling studies to IND submission. This role will be pivotal in shaping the company's scientific strategy and ensuring its successful execution.This role requires working onsite 5 days per week in our Brighton, MA office.Your contribution to AscidianScientific leadership in advancing RNA exon editor programs.Generate and utilize state-of-the-art cellular and animal models of disease to support RNA exon editor efficacy testingOversee key decision making in vitro and in vivo non-clinical experiments to understand the therapeutic potential of novel RNA exon editing technologies.Develop novel biomarkers to support efficacy testing in both non-clinical and early clinical studiesProvide scientific expertise and guidance in RNA biology, molecular biology, and gene editing technologies.Collaborate with the leadership team to define and refine the scientific strategy, ensuring its alignment with business goals.Mentor and guide research scientists, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.Establish and lead partnerships with academic institutions and other third parties to leverage emerging technologies and models.What you need to succeedPhD in neuroscience, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, genetics, or a related field.8+ years in biotech, pharma, or related industry with a focus on being technically excellent, strategic and innovative.Extensive experience in managing research teams and leading projects from discovery through preclinical stages, with a solid understanding of early clinical developmentPrevious experience working within a multiparty biotech collaboration is preferredDeep knowledge of neurological, muscular, and/or other genetic diseasesFamiliarity with regulatory requirements for early-phase clinical trials and IND submissionsProven track record of publications in high-impact journals or significant industry contributions.Strong familiarity with AAV and/or non-viral gene therapy and editing technologiesExperience in guiding teams to delivering high-quality datasets evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic modalities.Strong entrepreneurial mentality with a can-do attitude and hands-on approach, working in close collaboration with internal and external teams.Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and present scientific findings internally and externallyEstablished network within the academic, biotech and computational biology communities, is preferred.Life as an AscidianWe provide a vibrant startup environment where every employee contributes to our culture and science. We offer a generous total rewards plan that includes competitive compensation, stock options, and benefits. Our benefits include a top-tier health and wellness plan, generous parental leave, commuter reimbursement or paid monthly parking, tuition or loan reimbursement, career development opportunities and so much more.If you feel energized by what you read here, but are not sure you meet every requirement, please consider applying! We believe diverse backgrounds lead to innovative thinking that enables effective treatment for millions of patients. Above all, we are looking for the right person with skills and talent to grow the company all while enriching your professional and scientific experience.We provide a vibrant startup environment where every employee contributes to our culture and science. We offer a generous total rewards plan that includes competitive compensation, stock options, and benefits. Our benefits include a top-tier health and wellness plan, commuter reimbursement or paid monthly parking, tuition or loan reimbursement, career development opportunities and so much more.A final note - we highly encourage you to apply for our position, even if you are not sure you meet all the requirements. Everyone has unique talents, and at Ascidian, we look not only at your experience but your potential. We know that the best teams consist of diverse backgrounds, so please apply!Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfLinkedIn ProfileAre you legally authorized to work in the United States? *
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For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.As set forth in Ascidian Therapeutics’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.Select...Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
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We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to:Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDSBlind or low visionCancer (past or present)Cardiovascular or heart diseaseCeliac diseaseCerebral palsyDeaf or serious difficulty hearingDiabetesDisfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disordersEpilepsy or other seizure disorderGastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndromeIntellectual or developmental disabilityMental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSDMissing limbs or partially missing limbsMobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supportsNervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilitiesPartial or complete paralysis (any cause)Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysemaShort stature (dwarfism)Traumatic brain injury
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About us:Ascidian is redefining the treatment of disease by
rewriting RNA .Ascidian Therapeutics was founded to rewrite RNA by editing and replacing human exons. We were inspired by ocean creatures, called Ascidians, who are primordial ancestors of vertebrates. To grow from larvae to adults, ascidians re-engineer their transcriptome through RNA editing via trans-splicing and alternative splicing.In our Brighton/Boston labs, RNA biology meets today’s cutting-edge genomics, computational biology, and deep-sequencing technologies to create a new class of medicines that address the underlying causes of disease. We welcome you to come join our vibrant team and help us lead the way into a new gene therapy era.Who are we looking for?We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Scientific Director to lead an RNA editing program targeting highly unmet medical needs in rare disease. The successful candidate will have a strong background in drug discovery from target validation into early clinical development. You will have deep technical knowledge, a strategic mindset, and clear, forwarding-thinking leadership in preclinical models of human disease, establishing PK/PD relationships for gene therapy technologies, and a proven track record of successfully leading research programs from discovery into early clinical testing. As part of the Research Leadership team, you will lead a team of high-performing scientists to advance the current research pipeline, including taking the lead in preclinical IND enabling studies to IND submission. This role will be pivotal in shaping the company's scientific strategy and ensuring its successful execution.This role requires working onsite 5 days per week in our Brighton, MA office.Your contribution to AscidianScientific leadership in advancing RNA exon editor programs.Generate and utilize state-of-the-art cellular and animal models of disease to support RNA exon editor efficacy testingOversee key decision making in vitro and in vivo non-clinical experiments to understand the therapeutic potential of novel RNA exon editing technologies.Develop novel biomarkers to support efficacy testing in both non-clinical and early clinical studiesProvide scientific expertise and guidance in RNA biology, molecular biology, and gene editing technologies.Collaborate with the leadership team to define and refine the scientific strategy, ensuring its alignment with business goals.Mentor and guide research scientists, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.Establish and lead partnerships with academic institutions and other third parties to leverage emerging technologies and models.What you need to succeedPhD in neuroscience, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, genetics, or a related field.8+ years in biotech, pharma, or related industry with a focus on being technically excellent, strategic and innovative.Extensive experience in managing research teams and leading projects from discovery through preclinical stages, with a solid understanding of early clinical developmentPrevious experience working within a multiparty biotech collaboration is preferredDeep knowledge of neurological, muscular, and/or other genetic diseasesFamiliarity with regulatory requirements for early-phase clinical trials and IND submissionsProven track record of publications in high-impact journals or significant industry contributions.Strong familiarity with AAV and/or non-viral gene therapy and editing technologiesExperience in guiding teams to delivering high-quality datasets evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic modalities.Strong entrepreneurial mentality with a can-do attitude and hands-on approach, working in close collaboration with internal and external teams.Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and present scientific findings internally and externallyEstablished network within the academic, biotech and computational biology communities, is preferred.Life as an AscidianWe provide a vibrant startup environment where every employee contributes to our culture and science. We offer a generous total rewards plan that includes competitive compensation, stock options, and benefits. Our benefits include a top-tier health and wellness plan, generous parental leave, commuter reimbursement or paid monthly parking, tuition or loan reimbursement, career development opportunities and so much more.If you feel energized by what you read here, but are not sure you meet every requirement, please consider applying! We believe diverse backgrounds lead to innovative thinking that enables effective treatment for millions of patients. Above all, we are looking for the right person with skills and talent to grow the company all while enriching your professional and scientific experience.We provide a vibrant startup environment where every employee contributes to our culture and science. We offer a generous total rewards plan that includes competitive compensation, stock options, and benefits. Our benefits include a top-tier health and wellness plan, commuter reimbursement or paid monthly parking, tuition or loan reimbursement, career development opportunities and so much more.A final note - we highly encourage you to apply for our position, even if you are not sure you meet all the requirements. Everyone has unique talents, and at Ascidian, we look not only at your experience but your potential. We know that the best teams consist of diverse backgrounds, so please apply!Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfLinkedIn ProfileAre you legally authorized to work in the United States? *
Select...Do you require visa support either now or in the future? *
Select...Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.As set forth in Ascidian Therapeutics’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.Select...Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305Page 1 of 1OMB Control Number 1250-0005Expires 04/30/2026Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to:Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDSBlind or low visionCancer (past or present)Cardiovascular or heart diseaseCeliac diseaseCerebral palsyDeaf or serious difficulty hearingDiabetesDisfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disordersEpilepsy or other seizure disorderGastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndromeIntellectual or developmental disabilityMental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSDMissing limbs or partially missing limbsMobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supportsNervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilitiesPartial or complete paralysis (any cause)Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysemaShort stature (dwarfism)Traumatic brain injury
Disability Status
Select...
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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