Engage Bio, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a biotechnology company in the San Francisco Bay Area developing a new class of non-viral genetic medicines. The Tethosome platform pairs engineered DNA payloads with lipid nanoparticle delivery to address the two problems that have historically limited non-viral DNA therapies: insufficient expression and innate immune detection. The result is durable, potent expression without the immunogenicity, payload constraints, or manufacturing burden of viral vectors and a platform whose programmability opens therapeutic applications across autoimmune disorders, metabolic disease, cancer, and beyond.
This is a unique opportunity to work in a small, fast-moving team operating with the pace and ownership of a startup and the resources and reach of Lilly Research Laboratories.
We are seeking a scientist (Advisor, Molecular Biology) to join our growing team of molecular and synthetic biologists. This is a hands-on, bench-based role that is ideal for a scientist who enjoys engineering DNA and RNA constructs and wants to see that experience translate to an impact on patients.
Key ResponsibilitiesConstruct design and sequence engineering- Design and optimize expression cassettes across enhancer, promoter, 5' and 3' UTR, ORF (including mono- and polycistronic architectures, signal peptides, and functional domains), PolyA signal, and the non-coding sequences that tie them together, to tune expression, durability, and tissue specificity.
- Develop and implement high-throughput cloning strategies that move from design space to testable constructs quickly, keeping screening rather than construction as the rate-limiting step.
High-throughput screening and assay design- Design in vitro and cell-based assays and screens that resolve differences between constructs: potency, durability, specificity, and immune evasion.
- Evaluate and implement new assay technologies, automation, and readouts that increase throughput and shorten the design-build-test cycle.
Program support across therapeutic areas- Support the transition of constructs from screening into in vitro and in vivo evaluation, including delivery-relevant design considerations for LNP-formulated payloads.
- Generate clear data packages that communicate results and inform decision-making.
Basic Qualifications- Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Genetics, or related scientific discipline with 1-2+ years of relevant industry or postdoctoral research experience.
Additional SkillsThe work spans a wide range of molecular and synthetic biology. We do not expect any single person to arrive with all the following. We are looking for genuine depth in several of these areas, a broad working familiarity across the rest, and a willingness to become an expert in what you do not yet know.
- Regulatory element engineering: promoter and enhancer design, tissue-specific and inducible expression systems, UTR optimization, and library-based or barcoded screening of regulatory sequences.
- Engineering of conditional small molecule control of genetic vector expression in mammalian systems
- High-throughput and automated cloning (Golden Gate, Gibson, or similar), library construction, liquid handling, and NGS-based construct verification or screening readouts.
- Lipid nanoparticle formulation, characterization, and LNP-mediated delivery.
- Experience with one or more nucleic acid therapeutic modalities and an understanding of how modality shapes design constraints.
Additional Information- Location: On-site in San Carlos, CA
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$141,000 - $231,000
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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