Senior Scientist – Expert in RNA Biology and Rare Neurodevelopmental Diseases

Sanofi•Cambridge, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you ready to shape the future of medicine? The race is on to speed up drug discovery and development to find answers for patients and their families. Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled scientist with deep expertise in RNA biology combined with neurodevelopmental diseases. The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge and robust hands-on experience in RNA splicing regulation, miRNA and long non-coding RNA processing, RNA degradation mechanisms as well as perform state-of-the-art computational and in vitro techniques associated to prediction, analysis and validation of those RNA processes. The candidate would have solid knowledge and experience working on neurodevelopmental diseases such as Fragile X syndrome, Dravet syndrome, Angelman syndrome or SYNGAP1 syndrome. The candidate will have hands-on experience in vitro and in vivo skills to support phenotypical assessment of neurodevelopmental disease mouse models as well as to lead exploration of novel pathways and targets. We are a team that encourages creativity and proactiveness to unlock new therapeutic avenues. This is an exciting opportunity to make an early and meaningful impact on therapies for patients with devastating neurodevelopmental diseases. In this role, you will lead efforts to discover and validate novel RNA-based therapeutic targets and strategies. Your work will play a critical role in advancing our rare disease pipeline, particularly in rare neurodevelopmental indications. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate scientific insights into new programs, contributing to the strategic expansion of our therapeutic portfolio. We are an innovative global healthcare company with one purpose: to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We’re also a company where you can flourish and grow your career, with countless opportunities to explore, make connections with people, and stretch the limits of what you thought was possible. Ready to get started?

Requirements

Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, In vivo Biology or a related discipline, with 3+ years of relevant experience in a biopharmaceutical or academic research setting
Deep expertise in neurodevelopmental diseases biology and in vivo and in vitro models
Expertise in RNA homeostasis including RNA regulation and processing (e.g., splicing, stability, transport), the roles of regulatory RNAs and translation regulation mechanism
Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality scientific documentation, including experimental protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical reports, and presentations
Proven track record of meaningful contributions to research programs, evidenced by scientific publications and/or presentations
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional, matrixed teams
Highly adaptable, with strong multitasking skills and the ability to manage shifting priorities and timelines
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with sound scientific judgment
Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly
Interpersonal strengths that foster effective collaboration and the ability to build productive working relationships
Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining rigorous documentation

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with disease-relevant in vivo models, including functional and phenotypic assays such as Electroencephalogram (EEG), Paired-Pulse Facilitation assay (PPF), SYNaptic Proximity Ligation Assay (SYNPLA), field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs), synaptic plasticity measurement techniques, behavior, cognitive and motor functional assays
In vitro skills: Proficiency in iPSC culture, imaging microscopy, and high throughput imaging microscopy, in vitro neuronal activity (Microelectrodes array plate), Calcium imaging
Molecular skills: gene expression analysis (qPCR, ddPCR, WB, ELISA/MSD), molecular cloning, vector design, gene editing (e.g., CRISPR)
Experience with discovery, optimization, and development of small molecules and/or oligonucleotides
Familiarity with drug discovery and development processes

Responsibilities

Drive new program initiation by applying RNA biology expertise and RNA associated cutting-edge technologies (in silico prediction of RNA expression/splicing/degradation/export/structure, single nuc/single cell and bulk RNA-seq analysis, splicing analysis from RNA-seq data, in vitro high-throughput splicing assays), for rare neurodevelopmental diseases
Design, develop and conduct in silico, in vitro and in vivo mechanism-of-action, and proof-of-concept studies to validate targets and evaluate therapeutic strategies
Contribute to interdisciplinary research programs in a highly collaborative manner across internal groups and with external partners, with opportunity to grow into a project leadership role
Prepare high-quality analyses, interpretation, documentation, and presentations to support project milestones, publications, patent filings, and potentially regulatory (IND/CTA) filings
Present findings and progress in internal meetings and external venues as appropriate (e.g., publications, conferences, collaboration and governance meetings)

Benefits

Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

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