Scientist - Non-Viral Gene Delivery

Slope; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab bridging biology and AI to enable high-bandwidth brain-computer interfaces. The Delivery team develops non-viral gene delivery technologies and takes them toward safe, clinical translation.

The Scientist, Delivery, will develop delivery modalities, run in vivo studies, and collaborate across molecular engineering, neurobiology, and data science to bridge molecular design and neural function.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience leading research projects end-to-end in bioengineering, chemical engineering, drug delivery, neuroscience, molecular biology or related field.
• Hands-on experience with non-viral delivery vehicles including lipid or polymeric nanoparticles.
• Expertise in developing, optimizing, or evaluating gene delivery modalities.
• Designed and executed in vivo studies and interpreted delivery results.
• Experience advancing a delivery technology through preclinical translation or into the clinic.
• Worked on complex delivery problems and enjoyed multidisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Identify best non-viral delivery technologies and secure access through collaborations or in-licensing.
• Hands-on lab work to formulate and characterize LNPs and other non-viral vehicles for CNS delivery.
• Define success criteria and develop assays/readouts to measure them.
• Design, run, and interpret in vivo studies in rodents and large animal models as appropriate.
• Evaluate approaches pairing delivery with ultrasound-mediated BBB opening.
• Collaborate on payload design and expression requirements.
• Operate independently and drive projects to results, mentoring researchers as needed.

Skills

Non-viral delivery

Lab hands-on formulation

Multidisciplinary collaboration

In vivo study interpretation

Project independence

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent

Tools

Lipid nanoparticles

Polymeric nanoparticles

Job description

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab with the mission of bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability, agency and experience. We're pursuing this goal by developing fundamentally new approaches to brain-computer interfaces that interact with the brain at high bandwidth, integrate with advanced AI, and are ultimately safe and accessible for anyone to use.

About the team

The Delivery team develops the viral and non-viral delivery technologies that enable Merge's next-generation neurotechnology platform. By partnering closely with bioengineering, neuroscience, and in vivo teams, we create delivery systems that support rapid preclinical testing while advancing the platform toward safe and effective human translation. We work across disciplines to come up with creative ideas and solve some of the most challenging problems in biotechnology.

About the role

As a Scientist in the Delivery team, you will develop and evaluate non-viral gene delivery approaches that enable the expression and function of novel molecular biosensors and actuators of neural activity in preclinical models. Your work will serve as the critical bridge between molecular engineering and in vivo functionality and enable the ultimate clinical translation of molecular BCI. You will collaborate closely with protein engineers, cell and synthetic biologists, data scientists, physicists and neurobiologists.

In this role, you will:

• Identify the best non-viral delivery technologies wherever they exist and help to secure access through collaborations, material transfer agreements, or in-licensing.
• Work hands-on in our lab to formulate, adapt, and characterize LNPs, polymeric nanoparticles, and other non-viral vehicles for delivery of nucleic acid payloads to the central nervous system.
• Define success criteria spanning both efficacy and tolerability, and develop the assays and readouts needed to measure them.
• Design, run, and interpret in vivo studies in rodents and, where appropriate, large animal models, comparing candidate technologies head to head.
• Evaluate approaches that pair non-viral technologies with ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening.
• Assess durability of expression and the potential for repeat dosing, and weigh manufacturability and cost of goods alongside performance.
• Collaborate with molecular engineering and neurobiology colleagues on payload design and expression requirements.
• Operate independently and drive projects to a result, recruiting and mentoring research associate(s) over time as efforts expand.

You might thrive in this role if you have:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent experience leading research projects end-to-end in bioengineering, chemical engineering, drug delivery, neuroscience, molecular biology or a related field.
• Prior hands-on experience with non-viral delivery vehicles including lipid nanoparticles or polymeric nanoparticles.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing, optimizing, or critically evaluating gene delivery modalities.
• Designed and executed in vivo studies and interpreted delivery and expression results.
• Experience advancing a delivery technology through preclinical translation or into the clinic.
• Worked on a delivery-related problem that is unusual or complex and loved it.
• Enjoyed working on multidisciplinary teams, collaborating and communicating with experts across disciplines.
• The desire to be part of a fast-paced team working on frontier scientific and technical problems.

Nice to have:

• Experience sourcing, evaluating, or in-licensing delivery technologies through external collaborators.
• Familiarity with CMC, scale-up, or GMP manufacturing considerations for nanoparticle formulations.
• Familiar with design considerations for repeat dosing and immunogenicity.
• Hands-on experience with microfluidic formulation and analytical characterization methods.
• Experience with ligand or antibody conjugation for targeted nanoparticles.
• Experience pairing delivery vehicles with focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening.
• Have worked with large animal models.

For more information about hiring at Merge, please visit our Hiring FAQ

Merge Labs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, family status, ancestry, citizenship, U.S. military (state and federal) and veteran status, or any other legally protected status. It is our intention that all applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job related factors. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made by emailing [e-mail].