Senior Scientist, Quantitative Biochemistry

About Voyager Therapeutics
Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYGR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to leveraging the power of human genetics to modify the course of – and ultimately cure – neurological diseases. Our pipeline includes programs for Alzheimer’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple other diseases of the central nervous system. Many of our programs are derived from our TRACER™ AAV capsid discovery platform, which we have used to generate novel capsids and identify associated receptors to potentially enable high brain penetration with genetic medicines following intravenous dosing. Some of our programs are wholly owned, and some are advancing with partners including Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease; Novartis Pharma AG; and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.voyagertherapeutics.com.

Voyager Therapeutics® is a registered trademark, and TRACER™ is a trademark, of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. 

Job Summary:

Voyager Therapeutics is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist*, Quantitative Biochemistry, to join our growing Non-Viral Therapeutics Team. This role will be responsible for detailed characterization of protein-based brain delivery technologies and therapeutic candidates, including bispecific antibodies and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in bioanalytical mass spectrometry and be able to develop a broad biochemical approach to understanding the structure-activity relationships of complex biotherapeutics. This role requires strong cross-functional collaboration with Antibody Engineering, Protein Science, Oligonucleotide Chemistry, and Technical Operations teams to develop and advance novel biotherapeutic candidates, contributing to Voyager’s growing pipeline.

Position Specific Responsibilities:

• Design, execute and interpret LC/MS-based experiments for detailed characterization of proteins, antibodies, and oligonucleotide conjugates, to confirm molecular identity (by intact mass and peptide map), product related impurities, post-translational modifications, degradation products, and conjugation profiles.
• Develop and optimize sample preparation protocols for complex biological matrices (plasma, serum, tissue lysates) to enable quantitative and qualitative LC/MS analyses.
• Establish working relationships with downstream analytical development groups to provide characterization of development candidates and ensure seamless transition from Research to Development.
• Collaborate with Protein Sciences, Antibody Engineering, and Oligonucleotide Chemistry teams to integrate SAR data from multiple biochemical and cellular assays to guide platform and program advancement.

Specialized Knowledge & Skills:

• A deep knowledge of the latest developments in antibody-based design and characterization, with a focus on mass spectroscopy methods (e.g. LC-MS/MS, QTOF, ESI, MALDI, HDX-MS, native MS, CDMS, peptide mapping, disulfide analysis)
• Experience with LC/MS characterization of antibody-drug or antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates, analyzing bioconjugation, biodistribution, and metabolomics
• Solid understanding of protein structure, PTMs (glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, etc) and their functional implications
• Hands-on experience with isolation of biotherapeutics from tissue samples and quantitative bioanalytical LC/MS in complex matrices
• Broad experience with protein analytical and biochemical characterization techniques (e.g. SDS-PAGE, SEC, antibody fragmentation, stability analysis, SPR, ELISA, flow cytometry, cellular assays) is preferred
• Prior experience managing contract research organizations (CROs) for characterization of bioconjugates is desired
• Familiarity with proteomics and novel target discovery is a plus
• Outstanding analytical, research and organizational skills
• Self-motivated with an ability to handle multiple projects, meet deadlines and make decisions
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Requirements:

• PhD in biochemistry, protein engineering or related field
• 5+ years of relevant industry experience

*Position level determined by candidate experience, qualifications, and competencies