Scientist, De Novo Discovery

Parabilis Medicines; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual target bonus

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Parabilis Medicines in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Scientist to join the Hit Discovery team and advance the Helicon platform through mRNA display and phage display technologies. The successful candidate will contribute to noncanonical amino acid incorporation and lead screening campaigns against challenging protein targets.

You'll collaborate with biology, chemistry, and data science teams to translate complex data into discovery progress, while maintaining rigorous experimental design and

Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Bioengineering, or related field.
• 0-3 years postdoc and/or industry experience preferred.
• Experience with mRNA display, phage display, or related cell-free display technologies is desired.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement mRNA display and phage display workflows.
• Lead screening campaigns against challenging protein targets.
• Analyze sequencing data to identify enriched motifs and SARs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (data science, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry).
• continually evaluate new technologies and workflows to improve assays and throughput.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Collaboration

Excellent communication

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Bioengineering, or related field

0-3 years postdoc/industry experience

Tools

mRNA display

phage display

cell-free display

genetic-code expansion

Job description

AboutParabilisMedicines

ParabilisMedicines is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating extraordinary medicines for patients with serious diseases by unlocking biologically important targets longconsidered undruggable.The company has pioneered a new class of alpha-helical peptides – Helicons™ – capable of modulating intracellular proteins that have historically been beyond the reach of conventional medicines. The company’s lead investigationalmedicine,zolucatetide, is the first and only direct inhibitorof theβ-catenin:TCFinteraction,a central node in theWnt/β-catenin pathway that haseluded drug developersfor decades.Zolucatetideis being evaluated in the clinic across multipleWnt/β-catenin-driven diseases, including desmoid tumors, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)anda rangeofothersolid tumor indications. Beyondzolucatetide,Parabilisis advancing additionalHelicon-basedprograms focused on other challenging targetswhere we believeourmedicines could have life-altering impact. For more information, visit www.parabilismed.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

What’s the opportunity?

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist to join our Hit Discovery team, reporting to the Director, De Novo Discovery, and contribute to the advancement of our Helicon Discovery Platform through the development and application of mRNA display and phage display technologies. This role is ideal for a recent PhD graduate or early-career scientist with a strong foundation in chemical biology, molecular biology, protein engineering, biochemistry, or a related discipline. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and integration of noncanonical amino acids into the mRNA display platform, lead screening campaigns against previously “undruggable” protein targets and innovate display screening workflows. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment focused on building next-generation discovery capabilities and discovering transformative therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, construct, and produce diverse mRNA display libraries using standard and advanced molecular biology techniques, including PCR, cloning, in vitro transcription/translation workflows, and chemical modification strategies.
• Expand the chemical diversity of mRNA display libraries by incorporating noncanonical amino acids via reprogrammed or orthogonal translation systems.
• Design and execute routine mRNA display and phage display high-throughput screening campaigns to discover novel binders against challenging protein targets.
• Analyze next-generation sequencing data to identify enriched peptide motifs and asses sequence-activity relationships.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies, workflows, and process improvements, with a particular focus on enhancing the performance, robustness, and scalability of the mRNA display platform.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including data science, biochemistry, and medicinal chemistry.
• Stay current with relevant literature and emerging screening technologies.

What you’ll need to be successful

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field, with 0-3 years of postdoctoral and/or industry experience.
• Experience with reprogrammed translation systems and genetic-code expansion enabling site-specific incorporations of noncanonical amino acids into high-diversity peptide libraries are preferred.
• Direct hands-on experience with mRNA display, phage display, or a closely related cell-free display technology is desired.
• Strong foundation in chemical and molecular biology techniques, including orthogonal translation systems, cell-free protein synthesis, cloning, DNA library construction.
• Strong biochemistry background and familiarity with next-generation sequencing workflows and data analysis are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute experiments independently, troubleshoot effectively, and interpret complex datasets.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present scientific data.
• Collaborative mindset with a high degree of initiative, curiosity, and enthusiasm for platform innovation and drug discovery.

Core Values

Parabilis Medicines is a team of passionate pioneers who are trailblazing the future of precision medicine with the aim of making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. The company is committed to promoting an inspiring and flourishing working environment for all employees across the business, in all departments, and driving innovation for patient benefit.

• Growth-Minded. We’re inventing a new class of medicines—one applicable to therapeutic targets that have been dreamt about, but always considered impossible to drug. Our work requires us to be curious, humble and adaptable.
• In(ter)dependent. We are fiercelyindependentas a leader indefying the limitations of current therapeutic modalities, andinterdependent as a team as wework collaboratively to shiftdrug discovery paradigms and provide patients with better treatment options.
• Patient-focused. We are deeply focused on patient outcomes, and all energy in the company is focused on science as it translates to patient impact.
• All-In. We’re All-In on solving some of the hardest scientific challenges and delivering one of the most effective new classes of drugs in history.

The base salary range for this position is $110,000-$140,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal practices. Parabilis’s total compensation package also includes an annual target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits designed to support our employees’ overall well-being.

As an equal opportunity employer, Parabilis Medicines values an inclusive workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

30 Acorn Park Drive | Cambridge, MA 02140 | www.parabilismed.com