Senior Associate Scientist

Reports to: Associate Director, Gene Therapy Research 

Position Summary  

Working within Fractyl Health’s Gene Therapy Research Team, the Senior Associate Scientist will be integral to discovering and developing the next generation of gene therapies centered on treating unmet medical needs due to metabolic disease. Successful candidates will be responsible for contributing to Fractyl’s pipeline gene therapy programs with a primary focus on developing and testing therapies for the treatment of diabetes. As a Senior Associate Scientist - Molecular Biology, you will participate primarily in the generation and evaluation of novel transgene constructs, and the development and application of cell-based in vitro assays to evaluate performance of the constructs. You will be a part of an exciting and dynamic environment where these responsibilities and roles may shift as we advance our Gene Therapies to the clinic, providing new opportunities for enriching your professional skillset.  

Primary Responsibilities  

• Clone transgene constructs, generating sequence-verified plasmid DNA   
• Maintain and culture cells (e.g., HEK293, immortalized endocrine cells, primary cells)   
• Screen transgene construct expression and performance in transfected/transduced cells  
• Development and application of molecular and cell-based assays (e.g., gel electrophoresis, PCR, qPCR, ddPCR, ELISA, western blot/Jess, flow cytometry, MSD)  
• Assist in AAV production, purification, and QC as needed  
• Apply molecular/biochemical assays to ex vivo and in vivo studies as needed  
• Analyze experimental data, generating plots and summarizing results and conclusions  
• Maintain a comprehensive Electronic Lab Notebook documenting experiments    
• Perform all activities in compliance with applicable regulations, Fractyl’s policies and guidelines, including all required applicable training 
• Bring a "can do" spirit to work and deliver on other responsibilities as assigned  

Education or Certification Requirements  

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Biology or related discipline  

Professional Work Experience  

• Bachelor’s with at least 5 years relevant hands-on work experience or a Master’s with at least 2 years post graduate relevant hands-on work experience 
• Applicable experience in biotech, pharmaceutical or medical device industries preferred 
• Prior vocational experience in related fields a plus (i.e. Co-Ops, Internships, Fellowships, etc.) 

Qualifications and Skills 

• Proficiency in all stages of Molecular plasmid cloning techniques:  
• Oligo and plasmid design using software (e.g., SnapGene, Benchling) 
• PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis and analysis 
• DNA restriction and ligation (e.g., restriction enzymes, Golden Gate, Gibson) 
• Bacterial transformation, plating, culturing, DNA prep, and colony screening 
• Submission of samples for Sanger sequencing and sequencing analysis  
• Experience in DNA, RNA, and protein isolation from cells and/or tissue samples 
• Experience in nucleic acids handling, quantitation, and analysis (e.g. Nanodrop, Qubit, Bioanalyzer qPCR, ddPCR, RT, etc.)  
• Experience in protein analysis (e.g., ELISA, Western blot, Jess, etc.) 
• Experience in cell-based assays (e.g. flow cytometry, luminescence assays, etc) 
• Experience in cell culture work (e.g., maintenance, transfection, transduction)  
• Experience in AAV production (Preferred)   
• Experience with electronic lab notebook documentation (Preferred)  

Other Essentials and Key Success Factors  

• Successful track record of working in high-growth and dynamic organizations 
• Demonstrated record of intellectual curiosity, innovation and creative problem solving with an entrepreneurial spirit 
• Ability to lead fast-paced projects with a keen sense of urgency to get the job done well 
• Evidence of "hands-on" experience and expertise 
• Proven and successful track record as a team-player and collaborator in small working environments 
• Highly organized and detail oriented with a passion to deliver quality results 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience translating technical concepts into user-friendly documentation 
• Highest levels of professionalism, confidence, personal values and ethical standards 

Travel 

• This position requires less than 5% travel. 

The description and requirements outlined above are general; additional requirements may apply.