Senior Scientist, Discovery Sciences and Technologies

At Gilead, we're creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we've tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world's biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gilead's team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we're looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly motivated and creative Senior Scientist to join our Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) technology advancement within the Discovery Sciences and Technologies (DST) Department. This pivotal role will enable and drive innovation in LNP-based drug delivery, enabling the next generation of nucleic acid therapies (including mRNA, DNA and gene editing modalities) across Virology, Oncology, and Inflammation therapeutic areas.

DST Department members are responsible for the design and execution of rigorous, quantitative, and physiologically relevant in vitro biochemical and functional cellular assays. They collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams to discover and evolve drug candidates from lead identification efforts during project inception to the characterization of the final development candidate.

The successful candidate will be an integral member of a high performing research core team dedicated to LNP-based discovery research for therapeutic applications. This individual will work closely with various research functions and external collaborators to advance transformational nucleic acid-based therapies into clinical development for patients.

Our company is a highly matrixed organization and the ability to work effectively across diverse functional groups and therapeutic areas is a key attribute for this role.

Specific Responsibilities

• In close, iterative partnership with formulation scientists, provide the biological data and mechanistic insights necessary to establish clear structure-activity relationships and drive the data-driven optimization of LNP delivery system.
• Design, synthesize, and engineering of advanced nucleic acid payloads. This includes mRNA, DNA and components for gene editing (e.g., gRNA, donor DNA) to optimize payload function and stability.
• Develop and execute a suite of robust in vitro cell-based assays to quantify payload delivery (transfection efficiency), protein expression and functional outcomes (e.g., gene editing efficiency, target knockdown) in relevant cell lines and primary cells.
• Characterize the immunological profile of formulation, including innate immune activation and potential immunogenicity
• Contribute to the preparation of scientific reports, manuscripts, and patent applications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related scientific field is required.
• A minimum of 4+ years of industry experience conducting independent research in nucleic acid therapeutics, drug delivery or a related field is required. Strong postdoctoral training is desired.
• Extensive, hands-on expertise in a broad range of molecular biology techniques, including plasmid design, molecular cloning, DNA template preparation, in vitro transcription (IVT), and RNA purification and analysis. Experience with the design and synthesis of advanced mRNA modalities such as circRNA or self-amplifying RNA is required.
• Demonstrated experience with the design, generation, and in vitro testing of diverse nucleic acid payloads (e.g., mRNA, siRNA, ASO, plasmid DNA) and/or gene editing systems (e.g., CRISPR/Cas) is highly desired.
• Proficiency in mammalian cell culture, including the handing of both cell lines and primary cells. Extensive experience in developing, optimizing and executing quantitative, cell-based function assays (e.g., transfection, flow cytometry, immune assays, RT-qPCR) is required.
• A strong background in immunology, particularly in the areas of innate immunity and the characterization of immune responses to biologics, vaccines, or nanoparticles.
• A solid understanding of the fundamental principles of LNP formulation and drug delivery.
• Strong data processing and analysis skills in automated data processing, NGS sequencing analysis, and visualization software tools; Familiarity with R or Python for data analysis is a plus
• Excellent experimental design and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to meticulously document laboratory procedures and experiments. Ability to multitask effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced research environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across disciplines and present to executive leadership.

The salary range for this position is: $169, $219, Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

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• Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

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