Advisor / Sr. Advisor - Peptide Discovery (San Diego, CA)

Role Summary

This position is a technical leadership role (Advisor or Senior Advisor) in the Peptide Discovery Team as part of Biotechnology Discovery Research in San Diego, to direct research for the discovery of peptide macrocycles of therapeutic interest. The individual will possess expertise in the innovation and operation of industry state-of-the-art macrocyclic peptide discovery technologies, such as mRNA display, phage display, and related platforms. The individual will lead drug discovery research activities through individual contribution, as part of a peptide discovery team of scientists. In this role, the individual is responsible to lead the peptide screening projects and collaborate extensively with team members and cross-functional teams to accelerate the development of macrocyclic peptide hits for therapeutic applications, including oral peptides, peptide drug (small molecule or nucleic acids) conjugates and peptide radionuclide conjugates. This role includes responsibilities for mentoring junior scientists and technical associates, proposing strategies and future directions to meet broader Peptide Discovery Team goals, and effectively communicating progress within Biotechnology Discovery Research and to cross-functional research groups in Lilly discovery research.

Responsibilities

• Apply knowledge of molecular biology, genetic engineering, and chemistry to build the next generation of peptide display platforms with high impact toward drug discovery research.
• Design and execute peptide library screens for the discovery and optimization of peptide hits for a given biological target of interest
• Develop new methods and technologies to strengthen the team’s discovery platforms
• Train junior scientists on the build and execution of peptide display platforms
• Lead screening projects and collaborate closely with experts in different fields, such as medicinal chemistry, computational science, protein sciences, and structural biology
• Incorporate knowledge to improve peptide properties such as target affinity and pharmacology or physico-chemical and ADME properties
• In collaboration with peptide medicinal chemists, implement rational SAR strategies to improve pharmaceutical properties of therapeutic peptide leads
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, and excellent organizational, communication and presentation skills
• The candidate is expected to exhibit strong problem-solving abilities and be familiar with understanding and resolving issues that lie at the interface of peptide discovery, peptide engineering and pharmaceutical developability

Qualifications

• Required: A Ph.D. degree and/or postdoctoral research in chemistry, biochemistry, or molecular biology with a strong focus on peptide display and discovery technologies
• Required: 0-5 years of experience in a biotechnology/pharmaceutical company with a demonstrated leadership in peptide discovery and a track record of advancing peptide-based therapeutics, from concept to clinical development
• Preferred: Experience using state-of-the-art macrocyclic peptide display platform as demonstrated by publications or patents
• Preferred: Experience with biochemical and cell assay design and development to support peptide discovery efforts
• Preferred: Experience in Sanger and NGS sequencing genetically encoded, and the triaging and validating peptide actives following selection campaigns
• Preferred: Understanding compound physical chemistry models, measurements, their relationships to ADME properties
• Preferred: Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, and excellent organizational, communication and presentation skills

Skills

• Experience using state-of-the-art macrocyclic peptide display platform as demonstrated by publications or patents
• Experience with biochemical and cell assay design and development to support peptide discovery efforts
• Experience in Sanger and NGS sequencing genetically encoded, and the triaging and validating peptide actives following selection campaigns
• Understanding compound physical chemistry models, measurements, their relationships to ADME properties
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, and excellent organizational, communication and presentation skills