Senior Scientist

Akeso Biopharma; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Akeso Biopharma seeks a Drug Early-Stage R&D Project Leader to orchestrate innovation and differentiation strategies for early-stage R&D projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional setting. The role bridges data outputs with R&D teams to ensure on-time milestones at Zhongshan, Guangdong, with full-time, on-site duties.

The candidate will manage the full preclinical lifecycle, craft detailed plans, monitor milestones, and ensure rigorous data quality and regulatory readiness.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, or related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in preclinical drug R&D; 2+ years leading projects or managing teams.
• Familiarity with full R&D process for biologics or gene-therapy drugs; IND filing preferred.
• Strong data analysis, technical review, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and project coordination.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage the full preclinical R&D project lifecycle for innovative drugs, covering target identification, project initiation evaluation, study design, and experiment execution.
• Develop annual, quarterly, and monthly R&D plans, break down work packages and key milestones, and oversee project progress, R&D quality, and risk control.
• Lead the resolution of core technical challenges in R&D; review and optimize experimental protocols; tackle bottlenecks in development.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Ph.D. in Biology/Pharmacology/Biotechnology

Job description

Drug Early-Stage R&D Project Leader (Project Leader)

A core technical management role reporting directly to the VP. The role is responsible for orchestrating and steering the innovation and differentiation strategy and timelines of early-stage drug R&D projects, promptly adjusting project strategy based on data, and bridging data outputs and technical R&D across functional teams, while driving cross-departmental collaboration and external partnerships to ensure efficient pipeline advancement and on-time milestone achievement. Work location: Zhongshan, Guangdong. Full-time, on-site.

Independently manage the full preclinical R&D project lifecycle for innovative drugs, covering target identification, project initiation evaluation, study design, and experiment execution. Develop annual, quarterly, and monthly R&D plans, break down work packages and key milestones, and oversee project progress, R&D quality, and risk control throughout, ensuring projects achieve established milestones on schedule.

Lead the resolution of core technical challenges in R&D; review and optimize experimental protocols; and tackle key technical bottlenecks in the development process. Coordinate the organization, analysis, and retrospective review of R&D data; standardize laboratory records and data traceability; ensure the scientific rigor, completeness, and reliability of R&D outcomes; and continuously improve the R&D technical system and experimental workflows.

Track frontier technologies in drug R&D, target dynamics, industry policies, and regulatory review trends both domestically and internationally. Conduct competitive intelligence research and patent searching and analysis. Support the department in R&D pipeline planning, new project selection, and project initiation evaluation, and deliver feasibility analysis reports to support the execution of the company's R&D strategy.

Education：Ph.D. in Biology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, or a related discipline.

Experience：3+ years of experience in preclinical drug R&D; 2+ years of experience leading projects or managing teams. Familiarity with the full R&D process for large-molecule (biologics) or gene-therapy innovative drugs is required. Candidates with end-to-end experience from project initiation through IND filing are preferred; R&D project management experience at a CRO or pharmaceutical company is also a plus.

Technical Competence：Solid command of R&D technologies and experimental methods in the relevant field; in-depth knowledge of drug development processes; strong capabilities in data analysis, technical review, and problem-solving, with the ability to independently resolve key technical issues in R&D; proficiency in searching Chinese and English literature and patents; and the ability to independently draft technical documents, including project initiation reports, regulatory submissions, and project summaries.

Comprehensive Capabilities：Excellent project coordination, schedule management, and risk anticipation skills, with clear logical thinking and strong goal orientation. Strong cross-functional communication, internal/external collaboration, and resource integration skills to efficiently drive multi-party collaboration. Solid team management, coordination, and resilience under pressure, with the ability to manage multiple R&D projects in parallel.

Personal Qualities：Meticulous, highly responsible, and firmly committed to R&D compliance standards; possessing sound professional ethics, strong teamwork, and innovative thinking; and aligned with the quality management and compliance system requirements of pharmaceutical R&D.