Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Genome Engineering

tl;dr

General Proximity is a seed-stage startup developing the next generation of induced proximity medicines (IPMs). Our OmniTAC drug discovery engine furnishes molecules that co-opt existing cellular machinery to overcome therapeutic challenges, which have remained unapproachable to other modalities for decades.

We are seeking a first-rate Genome Engineer to help us pioneer this uncharted frontier of drug discovery.

Our Story

A long-standing challenge in drug discovery is the development of molecules capable of modulating difficult or "undruggable" targets. Disease-causing proteins can be dysfunctional in many different ways, but our armamentarium for fixing them is quite limited. The most common mechanism of action for FDA-approved drugs is inhibition[1], but there are many other possible perturbation types whose potential remains unrealized.

General Proximity is a seed-stage drug discovery company developing a novel platform technology to solve this problem. We make bifunctional drugs that induce the modification of drug targets by existing cellular machinery (rather than through direct modulation by the drug, the classical approach).

Historically, the development of technologies that allow one to push new buttons in biology has been an incredibly fertile field for the discovery of new medicines[2, 3, 4], and our technology holds the same promise.

 

The Position

We are seeking an experienced Genome Engineer to be a founding member of our Platform/Bioengineering Team. In this position, you will work in close conjunction with our Biology Team in the development of our core drug discovery technology and the generation of a completely novel class of therapeutics.

 

About You

High Agency. Initiative, independence, and self-accountability are some of our most valued traits.

Enthusiastic. We love people who are excited about what they are doing and are generally attempting to build a high-energy team.

Intensity and Grit. Early-stage startups are hard. Drug discovery is doubly so. We are looking for candidates who have a demonstrated ability to stick with complex problems for the long haul, with a team that has your back along the way.

Prosocial. We are here to create life-saving medicines for the patients who need it most. You should be, too.

 

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, or a closely related field
• Minimum of 2 years post-doctoral experience in academia or the biotechnology industry
• Demonstrated expertise in genome editing and engineering techniques, particularly CRISPR systems and vector design for gene editing applications
• Experience with lentiviral library construction, high-throughput pooled screening, FACS sorting, and NGS data analysis
• Experience with automation tools for high-throughput screening
• Proficiency in molecular cloning techniques such as Gibson assembly, Gateway cloning, and PCR to design and construct vectors for gene editing applications
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data analysis and visualization software (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB)
• Knowledge of cell line engineering and generation of stable cell lines
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for effective team collaboration and scientific reporting

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience on teams that have successfully advanced research to the clinic
• Familiarity or experience with PROTAC/next-gen IPM technologies
• Experience with PPI techniques (e.g., BRET, APEX/BioID, AlphaScreen etc.)
• Advanced gene editing techniques such as Prime or Base Editing

Key Responsibilities in this Role:

• Design and perform nested PCR to amplify ORFs from genomic DNA and construct lentiviral libraries for ORFeome screening
• Implement high-throughput genomics assays, inclu