AskBio Inc., a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, is a fully integrated gene therapy company dedicated to developing life-saving medicines and changing lives. The company maintains a portfolio of clinical programs across a range of neuromuscular, central nervous system, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease indications with a clinical-stage pipeline that includes investigational therapeutics for congestive heart failure, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and Pompe disease. AskBio’s gene therapy platform includes Pro10™, an industry-leading proprietary cell line manufacturing process, and an extensive array of capsids and promoters. With global headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and European headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland, the company has generated hundreds of proprietary capsids and promoters, several of which have entered pre-clinical and clinical testing.
Our vision: Pioneering science to create transformative molecular medicines.
Our mission: Lead innovative science and drive clinical outcomes to transform people's lives.
Our principles:
Advance innovative science by pushing boundaries.
Bring transformative therapeutics to patients in need.
Provide an environment for employees to reach their fullest potential.
Our values:
Be a Pioneer. We are not afraid of the impossible and to innovate to make gene therapies accessible to those in need.
Cultivate Collaboration. Strive to be the best teammate, actively listen, openly communicate, and embrace diverse points of view.
Embrace Responsibility. We are humbled by the enormity of our mission. We hold a relentless commitment to advance science and clinical outcomes for our patients, families, and caregivers.
Raise the Bar. Continuously drive improvements and efficiencies. Seek and provide constructive feedback. Have a bias for learning and action.
Act with Uncompromising Integrity. Be honest, transparent, and committed to doing what’s right in every situation. Make clear commitments and follow through.
Position Summary
AskBio is seeking a highly accomplished, innovative, and collaborative Principal Scientist to lead capsid discovery and development efforts within the Delivery group in R&D. This role is responsible for advancing next‑generation AAV capsid technologies that support AskBio’s pre-clinical and clinical gene therapy pipeline.
The Principal Scientist will operate as a scientific leader and people leader, providing strategic and technical direction for capsid library design, screening, and characterization efforts. The ideal candidate will have deep hands‑on experience with AAV capsid library screening methodologies, AAV production, and associated molecular and NGS‑based workflows, and will demonstrate the ability to think independently, generate new scientific ideas, and translate complex experimental and analytical data into actionable program decisions.
Working closely with cross‑functional partners—including bioinformatics, vector biology, translational, and therapeutic teams—the Principal Scientist will oversee multiple high‑impact projects, provide scientific ownership of integrated biology‑and‑data workflows, and contribute to the long‑term evolution of AskBio’s capsid and delivery platforms. The role is based in Research Triangle Park, NC.
About You
You are a highly independent scientific thinker who thrives in ambiguity and can take an abstract biological or technical question and turn it into a clear, executable experimental strategy.
You consistently generate new ideas and approaches, challenge assumptions, and look beyond established methods to advance capsid and delivery technologies.
You operate as a go‑to expert in your domain, influencing decisions through data quality, clarity of thinking, and scientific judgment.
You have experience leading people and thrive in cross-functional teams, leading without detailed instruction and able to balance strategic vision with hands-on scientific depth.
You are technically competent in lab-based research and willing to jump in when needed.
Job Responsibilities
Provide scientific and strategic leadership for capsid discovery and optimization efforts, overseeing multiple high‑impact projects aligned with AskBio’s R&D and delivery platform objectives
Provide line and/or matrix leadership to scientists and research staff, including mentoring, scientific coaching, performance feedback, and development of scientific and leadership capabilities
Define and drive innovative capsid screening and characterization strategies, independently conceiving new experimental approaches to improve transduction, specificity, and translational relevance
Ensure rigorous scientific oversight of capsid library screening campaigns, including experimental design, data interpretation, and translation of results into clear candidate‑selection recommendations
Provide scientific ownership of integrated biology and data workflows, guiding bioinformatics and NGS analyses to ensure alignment with biological questions and delivery goals
Provide technical and organizational oversight for AAV production needs within the Delivery group, ensuring production, purification, QC, and comparability of research‑grade AAV for capsid libraries, pools, and lead candidates
Own scientific direction, priorities, timelines, and decision‑making across multiple capsid‑focused workstreams, proactively identifying risks and driving solutions to ensure timely delivery
Set and uphold scientific standards and best practices across the group, including expectations for experimental rigor, data quality, and reproducibility
Partner closely with cross‑functional teams (bioinformatics, product development, translational medicine, manufacturing and early stage product teams) to ensure alignment, integration, and impact of capsid delivery efforts. Operate as Delivery lead within EPTs
Minimum Requirements
PhD in Molecular Biology, Virology, Biotechnology, Gene Therapy, or related discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience (may include postdoctoral training)
Demonstrated hands‑on experience with AAV capsid library screening, including pooled or barcoded libraries and NGS‑based analysis
Demonstrated experience in leading others in direct line management or matrix style roles
Demonstrated understanding of bioinformatics and data analysis workflows that support library discovery
Strong experience in AAV production, purification, and QC supporting discovery and preclinical research
Proven experience leading complex scientific projects with broad scope and minimal day‑to‑day supervision
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills
Experience with in vivo capsid selection, biodistribution studies, and tissue‑level analysis
Experience developing lead candidates in the context of therapeutic indications
Experience with CNS capsid discovery, in addition to other tissue targets
Experience with non-viral modalities
Familiarity working closely with bioinformatics teams for analysis and interpretation of large NGS datasets
Track record of mentoring scientists and building strong, high‑performing teams
Experience contributing to capsid, vector, or delivery platform strategy in a gene therapy or advanced R&D setting
Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences and influence cross‑functional stakeholders
AskBio Inc. (AskBio) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening by calling us at (919) 561-6210 or sending us an email at careers@askbio.com.
Agencies: Please do not contact any employee at AskBio about this requisition. Any resume submitted by a recruitment agency to any employee at AskBio, through any medium, will be deemed the sole property of AskBio unless the agency was engaged by AskBio Talent Acquisition team to recruit for that position. All agencies must have a prior executed service agreement with AskBio prior to any search engagement. If a candidate who was submitted outside of the AskBio agency process is hired by AskBio, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid to the agency.