Principal Scientist, Ocular In Vivo Translational Sciences

Job Title: Principal Scientist, Ocular In Vivo Translational Sciences

Location: Cambridge, MA

About the Job

Are you ready to shape the future of medicine? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress. 

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Scientist with expertise in in vivo ocular research to join Sanofi's innovative Ophthalmology Research team. You will lead IND-enabling preclinical studies, spearhead the development of novel disease models, and drive the advancement of innovative therapies for vision-threatening diseases. In this role, you will combine therapeutic strategy with hands-on expertise to influence drug development strategies throughout the ophthalmology portfolio while leading translational projects.

Main Responsibilities 

• Lead, design, execute, and analyze in vivo ocular studies, including IND-enabling studies, in relevant animal models to support drug discovery and development programs

• Assess pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety of potential ocular therapeutics, utilizing advanced imaging modalities (OCT, fundus photography, ERG, IOP, OKR) in small and large animals

• Develop and characterize preclinical ocular disease models, both internally and through external partnerships, to support therapeutic efficacy evaluation

• Perform and oversee a wide range of ocular dosing procedures and sophisticated histological techniques, including various administration routes in rodents

• Conduct and supervise molecular analyses (digital PCR, ELISA, Western blotting) and operate automated platforms for molecular and histological assays

• Manage ongoing studies, write pre-clinical regulatory documents for IND submission, and lead the development of regulatory documentation

• Author scientific publications, present research findings at internal governance meetings and external conferences, and provide scientific expertise on ocular drug development strategies

• Collaborate closely with internal project teams and external partners to advance ophthalmology research programs and establish/maintain external collaborations

• Provide scientific leadership in translational project teams and drive strategic decisions in drug development

• Ensure project flexibility and timely delivery by adapting to changing needs and managing resources effectively

About You

• Earned PhD in Vision Science, Ophthalmology, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, or related field with 5+ years of relevant post-PhD/doc experience in an academic or pharmaceutical setting

• Expertise in designing and executing translational research studies

• Strong track record in leading in vivo ocular translational studies

• Proven leadership and mentoring abilities

• Experience with various therapeutic modalities (small molecules, biologics, gene therapies)

• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed ocular journals

• Experience in translational research and clinical applications

• Proficiency in managing external collaborations and CRO relationships

• Strategic project planning and execution skills

Preferred qualifications

• Direct experience developing and characterizing ocular disease models using molecular and histological methods

• Direct experience designing and executing NHP studies with CROs and performing analyses

• Direct experience conducting in vivo PK, PD and efficacy studies

• Experience in regulatory documentation preparation

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams

• Experience analyzing data using computational approaches

Skills and competencies

• Advanced technical mastery with ability to be hands-on, provide guidance, troubleshoot complex problems, and train others in in vivo techniques and readouts

• Program management skills to lead complex research initiatives and cross-functional teams

• Ability to drive key decisions and collaborate with stakeholders across the organization

Why Sanofi?

At Sanofi, we are united by a shared purpose: to help people live healthier lives. Our research is driven by a passion for science and innovation. As part of our ophthalmology research team, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of vision care and make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients worldwide. If you are a strategic leader