Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Structural Biology

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 structural biologist 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 structural biologist/biophysicist to be a founding member of our Platform/Drug Discovery Team. In this position, you will work in close conjunction with our Biology and Chemistry Teams in the development of our core drug discovery technology and the generation of a completely novel class of therapeutics.

Your role will primarily involve hands-on laboratory work and will include tasks such as designing and performing experiments to express, purify, and analyze target proteins for structural or biophysical studies. You will employ advanced structural biology techniques to determine the three-dimensional structures of these proteins, interpret structural data, develop biophysical and biochemical assays, and perform high-throughput phenotypic and cell-based screening.

The ideal candidate should have expertise in protein expression using bacteria, mammalian or insect cells, be proficient with the ÄKTA FPLC system, and biophysical characterization of small molecules binding to proteins. While not required, familiarity with X-ray crystallography and/or Cryo-EM (grid preparation and data analysis) would be considered an additional asset.

 

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.

 

Qualifications & Nice-To-Haves

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
• Industry experience is desirable, but the ability to work hard and learn fast is more important to us.
• Deep understanding of small-molecule drug discovery and its relationship to human disease.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Top-notch written and oral communication skills.
  
  
• Strong experience with:
  • Expertise in protein expression and purification using multiple expression systems (mammalian, bacterial, insect) 
  • Expertise in biochemical and biophysical assay development (e.g., SPR, BLI, DSF, ITC, etc.)