An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a newly funded, early-stage biotechnology company developing a highly ambitious programmable therapeutics platform for oncology.
Having recently secured significant seed funding, the company is now expanding its scientific team as it moves from platform validation towards deeper preclinical development across multiple cancer indications. Their technology is focused on using programmable biology to recognise disease-defining genetic features and selectively eliminate target cells, opening the potential to address areas of oncology that remain difficult to drug through conventional therapeutic approaches.
This is a high-impact opportunity for a scientist who can bridge in vitro cell biology with in vivo pharmacology, generating the preclinical efficacy, biodistribution, safety and translational data that will shape the company’s path toward the clinic.
Why Join?
- Join a recently seed-funded biotech at a pivotal stage of growth
- Help build a novel oncology platform targeting disease biology at the genetic level
- Play a central role in shaping preclinical strategy across multiple indications
- Work at the intersection of in vivo pharmacology, translational biology, gene editing and oncology
- Take ownership of studies that will directly influence future clinical development
About the Role
You will lead animal model and translational biology programmes across multiple oncology indications. The role will involve designing and overseeing studies in disease-relevant animal models, coordinating with CRO partners, and generating the preclinical datasets needed to support therapeutic development.
This position will suit a scientist who is equally comfortable designing mouse studies, interpreting biodistribution data, working hands-on with cell-based models and translating complex biological findings into actionable development decisions.
Key responsibilities:
- Designing and monitoring in vivo efficacy and biodistribution studies across multiple oncology indications
- Leading animal model studies and coordinating outsourced work with CRO partners
- Designing and executing immunogenicity assessments, including anti-Cas human PBMC ELISpot screens for pre-existing immunity and redosing scenarios
- Establishing and running patient-derived organoid assay panels to evaluate therapeutic selectivity
- Defining pharmacodynamic readout strategies, including tumour molecular analysis and biomarker monitoring
- Performing hands-on cell line experiments to support translational studies
- Interpreting preclinical efficacy, safety, biodistribution and pharmacodynamic data to inform programme direction
- Working closely with internal scientific leadership and external partners to progress programmes toward the clinic
About the Candidate
Essential
- PhD in Cancer Biology, Pharmacology, Immunology or a related discipline
- 5+ years of hands-on in vivo and in vitro cell line experience
- Experience working with bladder cancer, liver cancer and/or lung cancer models
- Experience with local or intravesical delivery in rodent models
- Strong understanding of biodistribution study design and tissue analysis techniques, including qPCR and IHC
- Hands-on patient-derived organoid culture and functional assay experience
- Familiarity with immunology assays, including ELISpot
- Experience designing, managing and interpreting outsourced studies with CRO partners
Desirable
- Experience with GLP-adjacent or GLP-compliant preclinical studies
- Familiarity with Australian and/or US regulatory frameworks for animal studies
- Prior experience working on in vivo gene therapy or gene editing programmes
- Experience contributing to preclinical packages supporting IND-enabling development
This is an excellent opportunity to join a recently funded oncology biotech at an early and highly influential stage, working on a novel therapeutic platform with the potential to reshape how genetically defined cancers are targeted.
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