Lead Scientist - Functional Immunology*

Your mission

As Lead Scientist – Functional Immunology you will join our research team in Vienna and help us bring next generation drugs from the bench into the clinic. In this position you will design, establish and execute functional assays, analyze and interpret data, and contribute to the translational evidence package supporting clinical proof-of-concept studies.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• In-house assay development. Design, optimize, and execute in vitro functional assays to evaluate the activity of lead molecules and generate data to support mode of action studies and drug candidate selection, including immune and tumor cell co-culture systems for functional studies, T-cell activation assays and cytokine release assays
• Cytokine biology. Evaluate cytokine-mediated biological activity and support head-to-head selection of engineered cytokine variants, including JAK/STAT activation assays and receptor-bias characterization as well as T-cell activation assays
• Mechanism-of-action and target-engagement studies. Develop and execute in vitro studies to characterize target engagement, pharmacological profiling, and downstream biological responses of lead molecules.
• CRO coordination. Coordinate and oversee studies conducted with CRO partners, including In vivo efficacy models (e.g. humanized and knock-in mouse models) and ex vivo translational models (patient tumor fragments / organoids).
• Data interpretation and communication. Analyze and interpret the data, present it to the project team and management, and contribute to study design and program strategy.
• Supervision and mentoring of lab technicians

Your profile

What you have to offer:

• PhD in Immunology, Oncology, Cell Biology, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience following your PhD (preferably in a biotech or pharma setting).
• Hands-on expertise in immune-cell biology and cellular assay development.
• Practical experience with primary human immune cells, dendritic cells and T cells, multicolor flow cytometry, cytokine analysis, and functional immunology assays.
• Experience working with CROs and external collaborators.
• Good organizational, communication, and data-interpretation skills, and the ability to work well within a small team.
• Track record of scientific excellence, including publications and patent applications.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken).
• Strong candidates will also offer one or more of the following:
  • Experience with co-culture/tri-culture systems (e.g. dendritic cell–T cell–tumor).
  • Experience in early-stage drug discovery and preclinical development.
  • Familiarity with cytokine/cytokine-mutein biology, JAK/STAT signaling, and Treg vs. effector readouts.
  • Experience with ex vivo patient-tissue or organoid models.

Why us?

Benefits for you.

• Take responsibility for a key research field within Bio-LogX and bring new immunology based treatments to patients
• Lead and develop a team of highly skilled researchers and work closely with our bio-informatics, generative protein design and disease modeling teams.
• Pioneer new methods and processes to industrialize key research techniques.
• Be part of a highly motivated, multinational and fun team that believes protein based modalities can become next-generation medicines for patients.
• A competitive compensation package that reflects the qualifications and seniority of the candidate and may include further, e.g. performance-based, incentives. Due to legal requirements, we are required to state that the minimum salary for this job is a monthly salary of EUR 4.500,- gross, where candidates with extensive experience can expect to earn EUR 5.500,- and more.

About us

Bio-LogX FlexCo (currently being renamed to Sameric Bio), based at the Vienna Biocenter, is a VC-backed therapeutic engine. We develop drug candidates from animal to clinical proof of concept – always with the ambition to transform the standard of care. We are agnostic about therapeutic area but focus on protein modalities: antibodies, enzymes, fusions, engagers, degraders, agonists, antagonists.