"Principal Scientist siRNA Design

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; Basel; On-site; CHF 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG in Basel is looking for a Principal Scientist to lead the design and optimization of therapeutic siRNA. This role requires deep expertise in siRNA/RNAi design, collaborating closely with project teams and AI specialists.

The ideal candidate holds a Ph.D. and has over 5 years of relevant industry experience. Responsibilities include developing novel chemical modifications and ensuring alignment across therapeutic development phases.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience specifically in siRNA/RNAi therapeutic design.
• Deep understanding of the RNAi mechanism and profiling of siRNA therapeutics.
• Hands-on experience with command-line utilities and scripting languages for biological sequence analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the drug design strategy for oligonucleotides with a focus on siRNAs.
• Develop and invent new chemical modification patterns and sequence selection strategies.
• Work in close partnership with AI experts to refine machine-learning models.

Skills

siRNA therapeutic design

computation and empirical approaches

biological sequence analysis

communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, or related field

Tools

command-line utilities

scripting languages

Job description

Position Summary

The siRNA Design Principal Scientist will play a key role in designing and optimizing therapeutic siRNA against various disease targets from target assessment through lead optimization. Responsibilities include leading drug design strategy, collaborating with AI experts, and ensuring cross‑functional alignment across therapeutic development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the drug design strategy for oligonucleotides with a strong focus on siRNAs, leveraging computational and empirical approaches for both proof of concept on novel targets and full‑scale lead optimization for clinical development.
• Guide projects holistically and ensure early design decisions align with late‑stage clinical and manufacturing requirements.
• Develop and invent new advanced chemical modification patterns and sequence selection strategies to optimize the pharmacological properties of siRNAs.
• Work in close partnership with AI experts to develop, validate, and apply AI design solutions; provide ground‑truth biological data and domain expertise to refine machine‑learning models.
• Act as the RNAi subject‑matter expert in collaboration with project teams and disease experts, ensuring alignment across functional boundaries.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience specifically in siRNA/RNAi therapeutic design.
• Deep understanding of the RNAi mechanism and profiling of siRNA therapeutics.
• Proven track record in applying chemical modification patterns of siRNA to enhance therapeutic profiles.
• Familiarity with the interface of biology and data science; comfortable discussing parameters and data features with AI engineers.
• Hands‑on experience with command‑line utilities and scripting languages for biological sequence analysis and data management.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of translating complex scientific concepts into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.