Scientist II - Biology

About the role >>>  Scientist II - Biology

The Role: 

Olema Oncology is currently seeking a talented and innovative Scientist II to join the Research Biology team as a screening specialist. Responsibilities of this position will include developing biology specific strategies for early-stage research projects, development and execution of biochemical and/or cellular phenotypic screening assays of new drug candidates, programming and use of liquid handler automation systems, as well as mentorship of junior scientists within the team.

You will be responsible for conducting experiments to generate high-quality data and communicate these results regularly within our project teams. You will work collaboratively within the research team to assist in the conduct of early-stage research, the goal of which is the identification of New Chemical Entities (NCEs). The Scientist II in our Research Biology organization will support adherence to all regulatory requirements and company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The final level may be adjusted based on the experience of the candidate. 

What You Will Do: 

The selected candidate will be responsible for: 

• Design, optimization and execution of primary screening experiments, the goal of which is the identification of additional hits and new chemical scaffolds  
• Provide support for lead optimization by screening compounds and/or supporting structure activity relationship (SAR) studies involving the characterization of the biological activity of compounds in various assays  
• Assist in the development of biology specific strategies to help progress small-molecule oncology target discovery programs 
• Presentation and communication of results as part of multi-disciplinary team(s) 
• Manage and program automated liquid handlers (Tecan Fluent, Biomek etc.) for medium/high throughput screening assays 
• Assist in the identification/validation of new targets for drug discovery programs 
• Mentor junior team members 
• Work cross-functionally within the Research team, design and communicate Biology strategy and workflows to progress projects from hit to lead onwards 
• Apply relevant scientific principles and techniques to research problems 
• Maintain detailed electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) and record results in a timely manner 
• Maintain knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and techniques 
• Present findings internally and externally and contribute to the publication of the work of the project team 
• May contribute to the development of patent applications as appropriate 
• Comply with all safety requirements 
• General lab duties as assigned 

Ideal Candidate Profile >>>  

A love of challenging, important work. We are a pragmatic team, driven to imagine and develop meaningful therapies for improving lives. All employees within our company play a unique and crucial role in our success, both in accomplishing our mission and building a positive company culture. As such, we are looking for someone with the right combination of knowledge, experience, and attributes for this role. 
  
Knowledge: 

• PhD. in Cancer Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related field 
• Minimum 4+ years of relevant industry experience, with small molecule drug discovery 
• Oncology experience required
• Hands-on experience with laboratory automation platforms such as Tecan, Hamilton, or Beckman Coulter Biomek, including programming, developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting automated methods  

Experience: 

• Prior experience with in vitro assay development, execution, and optimization for small molecule drug screening, ideally within a drug discovery setting 
• Experience in designing and delivering biology strategies for research projects 
• Experience working on targets relevant to ER+ breast cancer biology preferred, Oncology experience required 
• Knowledge of breast cancer and/or cancer signaling pathways preferred
• Excellent and proven project management skills 
• Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories, concepts and techniques 
• Knowledge of and ability to use standard molecular and cell biology techniques are required, for example, Western blotting, microscopy, plate-based assays and qRT-PCR 
• Asceptic mammalian cell culture experienced is required 
• Knowledge of scientific principles and concepts, and current on relevant scientific literature 
• Good general knowledge of other related disciplines 
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals 
• Strong publication track record in oncology, biochemistry and/or drug discovery 
• Experience working with high throughput screening with robotic liquid-handling automation tools is required 
• Experience with assay miniaturization and optimization preferred 
• Experience with automation software such as FluentControl and VENUS, as well as formal vendor training or certification, is strongly preferred  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office. Proficiency with GraphPad Prism, or other analytical software 
• Experience working with Dotmatics or similar database/ELN software is preferred 
• Data Science/Informatics skills and experience is preferred 

Attributes: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication and skills 
• Analytical thinking with problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines 
• Effective planning, organization and time management skills including the ability to support and prioritize multiple projects 
• A commitment to excellence 
• A self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic team player who is excited about advancing new medicines and delivering impactful drugs 
• Teamwork and collaboration; balances team and individual responsibilities; gives and welcomes feedback; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; shares expertise with others 
• Entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to prioritize key work-streams and requirements that will change over the near and mid-term 
• A demonstrated ability to make decisions on incomplete information and in areas where a high degree of professional judgment is required 
• Be a “difference maker” in terms of one’s professionalism and contributions 
• Have impeccable professional ethics, integrity and judgment 
• Be collegial, hard-working, confident, a self-starter and have a passion for results 

The base pay range for this position is expected to be $150,000 - $165,000 annually, however the base pay offered may vary depending on location, market, job related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience. The total compensation package for this position also includes equity, bonus, and benefits. 

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