Scientific Fellow (Director), Immunology

Psivant Therapeutics • Watertown, MA

13d

About The Position

PsiThera is seeking an experienced drug discovery biologist with deep expertise in immune and inflammatory signaling to lead small-molecule and macrocycle discovery programs from hit identification through development candidate nomination and IND submission. The role combines ownership of research plans and multidisciplinary program leadership with meaningful hands-on laboratory work. Laboratory contributions include establishing key assays, conducting decision-critical and mechanistic experiments, troubleshooting, and training others. The position may also lead a small team of scientists.

The successful candidate will lead program planning and execution, secure cross-functional alignment and organizational support, and advise leadership on scientific strategy, resource allocation, and go/no-go decisions. They will oversee CRO biology activities and represent programs to senior leadership, external experts, prospective partners, and scientific conference audiences.

The role also involves designing and overseeing hit-finding campaigns and assay cascades; conducting in vitro pharmacology studies using primary human immune cells, whole blood, and available patient-derived samples; and designing and overseeing in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD studies in inflammation and autoimmunity models. The Fellow will contribute to translational biomarker strategy, build scientific capabilities and technologies, evaluate potential collaborators and emerging technologies, and mentor scientists across the organization.

PsiThera is an early-stage biotech focused on first-in-class inflammation and immunology small-molecule therapeutics. The company combines physics-based and AI technologies with expertise across disciplines including chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and structural biology. The role is suited to a rigorous, collaborative scientist who thrives in a dynamic environment and wants to contribute to drug discovery and the development of new therapeutics.

Requirements

• PhD in Immunology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, or a related field with 12 or more years of biotech or pharmaceutical drug discovery experience; alternatively, an MS with 16 or more years of equivalent experience.
• Track record of advancing small molecules from hit identification to development candidate selection as a project team leader or lead biologist.
• Hands-on hit-finding experience, including screening assay development, HTS or DEL campaigns, and hit triage and confirmation.
• Prior people-management experience and demonstrated leadership of cross-functional project teams or workstreams.
• Hands-on expertise with primary human immune cells and whole blood, and experience building biochemical, biophysical, and cellular assay cascades for screening, SAR, and mechanism-of-action studies.
• Broad knowledge of in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation and autoimmunity, including experience designing and interpreting in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD studies.
• Experience managing CRO collaborations.
• Scientific achievement demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications and/or patents.
• Strong scientific rigor in generating, analyzing, and presenting data to drive program decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with scientific, executive, and partner audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience across multiple target classes and therapeutic areas.
• Experience working with clinical teams on translational research or biomarker strategy.
• Experience leading programs through IND submission.
• Experience in a small or growing biotech environment.

Responsibilities

• Create and update research operating plans, including resource planning, budget management, risk assessment, and contingency planning.
• Secure cross-functional alignment and organizational support for program plans.
• Lead multidisciplinary program teams and be accountable for program goals, milestones, and timelines.
• Define stage-gate success criteria and timelines, recommend resource allocation, and advise leadership on go/no-go decisions.
• Manage CRO partnerships across biology activities, including study design, execution, data quality, and delivery to project teams.
• Shape target validation and scientific strategy for the immunology portfolio, advising leadership on opportunities and trade-offs.
• Engage key opinion leaders and external experts to pressure-test program hypotheses, align priorities, and inform business and partnering decisions.
• Present program progress to senior leadership and represent programs to prospective partners and at scientific conferences.
• Design and oversee hit-finding campaigns, including HTS and DEL, along with hit triage and confirmation.
• Build and transfer fit-for-purpose biochemical, biophysical, cellular, and whole-blood assay cascades for hit triage, SAR, target engagement, and mechanism-of-action studies.
• Design and conduct in vitro pharmacology studies using primary human immune cells, whole blood, and available patient-derived samples.
• Design and oversee in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD studies in inflammation and autoimmunity models to link compound exposure to immune-cell function and disease-relevant outcomes.
• Contribute to development and execution of translational biology biomarker strategies.
• Build in-house capabilities and technologies, such as assay platforms and human-cell and whole-blood systems, that support multiple programs.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, CROs, and academic or industry collaborations.
• Mentor scientists across the organization and constructively challenge scientific thinking.
• Conduct hands-on laboratory work, including establishing assays, running decision-critical and mechanistic experiments, troubleshooting, and training others.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including 401(k) match.
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on the development of novel therapeutics.
• Work with a talented and passionate team of scientists.
• Be part of a cutting-edge company that is revolutionizing drug discovery.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree