POSITION: PhD Scientist – Target Validation and Translational Drug Discovery

Lime Therapeutics is a platform-enabled seed-stage biotechnology startup developing medicines targeting altered lipid-mediated pathways in patients with cancer, metabolic diseases, and aging-related neurodegenerative disorders. We are a VC-backed spinout from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, using our breakthrough LipidSense™ platform to identify small molecules which inhibit novel disease-specific lipid processing targets. Our vision at Lime is to leverage our technology and expertise in lipid biology to bring our own first-in-class therapeutics to patients.

We are building an environment where highly motivated scientists looking to make an immediate difference can learn broadly, think independently, and work fast to drive our pipeline programs forward. Lime is headquartered at BioLabs NYU, a vibrant state-of-the-art accelerator with over 40 Seed and Series A biotech companies, in the heart of New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.

Mission

Lime has identified novel in vivo essential targets that will lead to first-in-class medicines for patients with KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The mission of this role is to progress these hits from target prioritization and validation to small molecule development. In this role, you will independently validate and characterize tumor progression in genetic cell models in vivo and develop a deep understanding of the targets’ mechanism of action in vitro and in vivo. As part of our team, you will effectively leverage our network of consultants, advisors, and CROs to successfully progress 3 targets into the next phase of clinical development.

What you will do in this position

Nominate a list of up to 3 targets for inclusion in Lime’s development pipeline within 6-8 months

● Generate and validate (by WB or qRT-PCR, etc.) CRISPR KO (stable or inducible) and appropriate control cells for 5-10 shortlisted targets within 3-4 months

● Perform in vivo tumor experiments with generated cell lines within 6-8 months

● Design experiments with proper controls, appropriate mouse/tumor models, and defined endpoints and measurements for target validation experiments in vivo

● Understanding the MoA of the targets to advance program to lead discovery and optimization

Requirements for this position

● PhD in biological or biomedical science with a focus on cancer

● Track record of independently delivering scientific results

● Motivation and desire to be a pivotal member of a growing seed-stage startup

Skills for this position

You will be a great fit for this role if you have:

● Expertise in in vivo tumor models including subcutaneous injection, tail vein injection, luciferase and caliper measurements, and mouse handling and dissections

● Expertise in aseptic tissue culture techniques including cell line maintenance, proliferation experiments, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, inducible knockout, or expression systems

● Expertise in molecular biology techniques including cloning, Western blot, qRT-PCR, etc.

● Impeccable and efficient experimental design, assay development, and execution

● Strong scientific communication skills, perform detailed data analysis and accurate record keeping to support our IP portfolio, and can present to internal and external parties

● Experience managing professional relationships and can communicate with a range of stakeholders, including consultants, advisors, and CROs

Culture at Lime

You will thrive as our teammate if you:

● Are independent and creative with a proven track record of scientific leadership and success

● Have strong interpersonal communication skills, including as a representative of Lime

● Consistently follow through on commitments by taking responsibility for outcomes

● Have a strong willingness to work hard to get the job done

● Engage in honest and open two-way communication to actively foster a collaborative environment

● Are mission driven, think strategically with the big picture in mind, and align with and commit to the team’s goals

● Can rationally adapt and pivot based on the data to achieve team milestones

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this fully in-person full-time position is $100,000-$130,000 commensurate with skills and experience. As an early employee, you will be offered stock options with significant potential upside. In addition, Lime is committed to the well-being of our team members and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

At Lime Therapeutics equality, diversity, and inclusion are incredibly important to us. We welcome applications from all candidates irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, belief, or marital or civil partnership status.

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