Senior​/Principal Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology; Oligonucleotides

Classification: Exempt, Full-Time

Switch Therapeutics is seeking a talented
Oligonucleotide in-vivo pharmacologist
to join the Switch team.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience managing and executing in vivo rodent workflows to evaluate PK/PD in oligonucleotide discovery programs. The candidate must have demonstrated experience with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) dosing in mice, intrathecal (i.t.) dosing in rats, and fluid and tissue (CNS and systemic) collection for PK and PD analyses. Thus, familiarity with rodent brain anatomy and brain regions is critical to be successful.

This role will require full-time onsite work at our research facilities in South San Francisco.

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $150,000–$180,000 per year depending on experience. Base pay offered may vary depending on other factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include equity in the Company, a discretionary annual bonus, and a full range of healthcare and other benefits, including 401(k) eligibility and paid time off (including vacation, sick time, and parental leave).

Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.

If hired, the employee will be in an “at-will position,” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

• Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional biology and chemistry teams to prioritize in vivo experiments, generate high-quality data on schedule, and support project progression through the discovery pipeline.
• Manage external CROs with expertise in neuroscience and specialize din vivo models, including oversight of protocol development, prioritization, technical execution, data review, timeline management, and proactive troubleshooting to ensure timely, high-quality project delivery.
• Communicate complex translational data, strategies, and recommendations clearly to multidisciplinary internal teams and external stakeholders.
• May require the supervision of Scientist and RA colleague(s) responsible for highly effective execution of production methods and experimental approaches.
• Maintain thorough, audit-ready technical documentation in Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs).

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, pharmacology, biology, or a related discipline.
• Five to ten years of  vivo laboratory experience, preferably with a CNS focus.
• Prior research experience with ASOs and/or siRNAs is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated familiarity with rodent brain anatomy is required.
• Ability to work independently in a vivarium setting approximately 70–80% of the time.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for maintaining IACUC protocols and partner with vivarium staff to support smooth operation of thein vivofacility.
• Demonstrated experience dosing via i.c.v., i.t., i.v., i.p., and s.c. routes, as well as performing terminal brain tissue, peripheral organs and plasma collection is a core set of requirements for the job.
• Significant experience with mouse brain surgery under aseptic and stereotactic guidance for i.c.v. dosing is preferred. Candidates with rat i.t. dosing experience will also be preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of dose, test-material exposure, and related pharmacology concepts.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while meeting data-delivery deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly engage with team members.
• Staff management experience is a plus.

Switch Therapeutics is an emerging biotechnology company developing RNAi therapies stemming from transformative technologies invented at Caltech, City of Hope, and Harvard Medical School.

Switch’s conditionally activated siRNA (CASi) platform integrates RNA nanotechnology with RNA medicinal chemistry to create siRNA prodrugs that can activate or suppress their own drug activities based on the presence or absence of specific RNA markers in mammalian cells. This gives CASi-based drugs the ability to target specific cells responsible for disease while sparing non-target cells from drug activity.

Since its founding in Q3 2020, Switch has made significant progress in optimizing its technology for therapeutic applications and has generated highly compelling in vivo validation data demonstrating distribution, potency, and duration of effect that support development for important disease indications.