Principal Scientist for Translational Research

Akebia Therapeutics•Cambridge, MA

8h•$169,230 - $209,048

About The Position

Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million. At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them. Our tenacious, passionate employees’ challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease. This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you? Job Summary This role leads internal research projects aimed at clinical translation, with responsibilities spanning both life cycle management of marketed products and the strategic progression of new small-molecule therapies into areas of unmet medical need. You will design and implement in vitro and in vivo studies that accurately reflect human disease, and analyze human samples from clinical studies, drawing on your deep understanding of disease pathogenesis. You will also identify and develop preclinical biomarkers to inform and enable human studies. In this position, you will select and manage contract research organizations and external collaborators, ensuring high-quality execution of program objectives. You will partner closely with cross-functional teams across Research and Development and the broader organization, aligning scientific strategies with organizational needs. Success in this role requires intellectual curiosity, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to evolving scientific priorities. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills are essential, as is the ability to drive projects both independently and within a team environment.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field.
8+ years biotechnology/biopharma or pharma industry is required.
Experience establishing external collaborations and/or outsourcing preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo), including CRO selection and management.
Experience designing, establishing, and trouble-shooting in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo models reflective of human disease.
Experience with human samples from clinical studies
Experience with cell-based assays, biochemical/molecular techniques, preclinical rodent studies.
Excellent oral and written communication skills are required, including the ability to multi-task and collaborate with other members of the Team.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a post-doctoral fellowship
Evidence of successful, independent research demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications
Experience advancing drug discovery programs towards clinical development
Broad understanding of biological mechanisms driving acute and chronic diseases across multiple organ systems

Responsibilities

Identify and partner with Collaborators and/or Contract Research Organizations (CROs); interact directly with Principal Investigators and other key personnel for study coordination and planning, protocol development, research report writing and review, and project timelines; monitor and trouble-shoot outsourced studies through regular communications and interim data reviews.
Intellectually lead research effort by designing and executing in vitro (cellular and molecular assays) and in vivo studies in disease models to meet project objectives.
Troubleshoot protocols, adapt new protocols and probe the scientific literature to identify new approaches as needed.
Analyze, interpret and effectively communicate research data.
Write-up and review major scientific findings for internal research reports and/or publication.
Travel required for occasional conference, CRO study monitoring or collaboration.