Principal Scientist​/Associate Director, Translational Medicine

All Jobs >
Principal Scientist/Associate Director, Translational Medicine

Principal Scientist/Associate Director, Translational Medicine
Bay Area, CA OR Boston, MA OR Remote, USA

Gondola Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapeutics for genetic diseases. Gondola Bio is an independent sister company to Bridge Bio, originally carved out in 2024 after securing $300M in private financing from external investors. Gondola Bio aims to leverage cutting-edge biological research to discover, create, test, and deliver transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from genetic diseases.

You are a translational medicine scientist operating at the interface of discovery and early clinical development, with expertise in biomarker strategy, assay development, and clinical implementation. You bring a strong scientific foundation in biomarker biology and assay technologies, experience working within CLIA-certified or regulated laboratory environments, and the ability to operate cross-functionally across discovery, clinical development, and clinical operations. You are execution-oriented, capable of driving work through CROs and external partners, and thrive in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Experience in neurology or CNS disorders is preferred but not required.

This role will partner with the Translational Medicine VP to drive clinical biomarker strategy and execution across Gondola Bio’s early neuroscience clinical programs. The individual will be responsible for translating discovery stage hypotheses into clinically actionable biomarker approaches, ensuring assays are fit-for purpose, validated, and operationally feasible in global studies. This role will directly impact how target engagement, pharmacodynamic effects, and disease biology are measured in patients.

• Partner with discovery and preclinical teams to identify and prioritize translational biomarkers
• Translate preclinical findings into clinical biomarker strategies, including pharmacodynamic, target engagement, and disease-relevant endpoints
• Lead development, qualification, and validation of biomarker assays
• Oversee assay transfer, validation, and execution at CROs and external laboratories
• Ensure assays are implemented in CLIA-compliant or equivalent environments when appropriate
• Partner with Clinical Operations to design sample collection schedules, lab manuals, and logistics workflows
• Coordinate with clinical sites and vendors to ensure sample integrity and operational feasibility
• Integrate biomarker data with clinical, PK/PD, and safety datasets to generate decision ready insights
• Contribute to clinical protocol design, regulatory documentation, and cross-functional decision-making
• Serve as a key partner across discovery, clinical development, clinical operations, regulatory, and data science teams

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• 8+ years of experience in translational medicine, biomarker sciences, or clinical bioanalysis
• Experience managing biomarker strategies in global clinical studies and working with CROs
• Understanding of biomarker assay platforms and bioanalytical validation principles
• Experience working in or with CLIA or regulated laboratory environments

• - Experience in neurology or CNS disorders
• - Experience with intrathecal or CNS-targeted therapeutics
• - Familiarity with CSF biomarker workflows or neurophysiological biomarkers (e.g., EEG)
• - Experience contributing to regulatory submissions

• Patient Champions who put patients first, uphold strict ethical standards, and anchor decisions in clinical…