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Voyager Therapeutics

Senior Scientist, Oligonucleotide ChemistryLexington, MA

Voyager Therapeutics, Washington, District Of Columbia, United States, 20421

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Senior Scientist, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Voyager Therapeutics is seeking a motivated Senior Scientist, Oligonucleotide Chemistry to join our growing Non-Viral Team. This role will work cross-functionally with the Protein Science, Bioconjugation, Protein Engineering and downstream CMC groups to drive the discovery, optimization and development of therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and/or siRNAs candidates to enable Voyager's brain-penetrant antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) pipeline. This position is an opportunity to establish capabilities that will contribute to the advancement of Voyager's growing pipeline of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Key Responsibilities Design, synthesize, and optimize ASOs and/or siRNAs to produce candidate oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, including optimization of nucleic acid constructs for improved stability, delivery, and efficacy Implement a strategy to bring critical infrastructure and capabilities in-house to support the synthesis and characterization of oligonucleotides Critical evaluation and optimization of the processes to improve synthesis yield, purity and timelines for production of modified oligonucleotides Contribute to the growth of Voyager's AOC pipeline by delivering on critical platform and program goals related to oligonucleotide delivery to the CNS Partner with Bioconjugation and Technical Operation groups to ensure scalability and manufacturability of candidate oligonucleotides from Research to Development Stay current with emerging trends in therapeutic oligonucleotide chemistry and contribute to IP filings and publications Manage a network of external contract research organizations (CROs), to strengthen critical capabilities and provide access to scalable synthesis capacity Qualifications PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or related field 5+ years of industry experience in therapeutic oligonucleotide discovery Direct hands-on experience with in ASO and siRNA chemistry, including synthesis, modification, and conjugation Proven track record in designing and applying novel base pair modifications to enhance oligonucleotide properties Direct hands-on experience with analytical characterization techniques for assessing oligonucleotides and AOCs (e.g. HPLC, LC-MS/MS, in vitro activity screens, etc.) Hands-on experience establishing an oligonucleotide chemistry lab is desired Prior experience managing contract research organizations (CROs) for the synthesis and characterization of oligonucleotides is desired Outstanding analytical, research and organizational skills Self-motivated with an ability to handle multiple projects, meet deadlines and make decisions Excellent oral and written communication skills *Position level determined by candidate experience, qualifications, and competencies