Jobs in Structural Biology and Related Fields

Senior Scientist/Scientist, Structural Biology at Kymera Therapeutics

watertown, MA, United States

Application deadline: 14 Jul 2021

We are seeking an experienced and motivated structural biologist to join the Protein Sciences and Lead Discovery team at Kymera Therapeutics.  As part of a dynamic team, the successful candidate will provide critical structural support (both x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy) for the identification and optimization of ligands to novel and proprietary E3 ligases as well as “undruggable” proteins of interest and will both conduct internal and drive external experiments to advance projects toward their goals. Kymera is advancing the field of targeted protein degradation, accessing the body’s innate protein recycling machinery to degrade rather than inhibit dysregulated, disease-causing proteins. This position will also play an important role in the progression of these binders to degraders. The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced and highly matrixed discovery environment requiring scientific rigor, organized and independently driven work, and exceptional attention to detail. 

Kymera Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on advancing the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD), a transformative new approach to address previously intractable disease targets. Kymera’s Pegasus™ TPD platform harnesses the body’s natural protein recycling machinery to degrade disease-causing proteins, with a focus on undrugged nodes in validated pathways currently inaccessible with conventional therapeutics. Our mission is to discover, develop, and commercialize transformative therapies while leading the evolution of targeted protein degradation. Kymera’s goal is to become a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of novel medicines, with an initial focus on immune-inflammatory diseases and oncology.

In 2021, we plan to continue to grow and strengthen our organizational capabilities to deliver on the potential of inventing a new class of protein degrader medicines for patients. Kymera is rapidly advancing three programs in clinical studies this year. We are also actively advancing a broad pipeline of preclinical programs across a wide variety of diseases, both internally and in collaboration with our partners Sanofi and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Responsibilities:

• As a member of the protein sciences and lead discovery team, lead protein sciences and structural biology efforts to identify, validate, and fully characterize small molecule ligands and progress to targeted protein degraders.
• Contribute to the strategy for bringing novel E3 ligase and oncology/immunology targets to the Kymera portfolio.
• In collaboration with chemistry, biology, and platform teams, characterize binary and ternary complex formation and establish SAR to rapidly drive the hit finding, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization process.
• Deliver data, contribute to critical data evaluation, and provide strong discipline leadership to project teams.
• Augment our toolbox of structural biology techniques to address the specific needs of targeted protein degradation drug discovery

Qualifications:

• PhD in Structural Biology or related discipline.
• 1-3 years of biotech/pharma industry experience with a track record of hit-finding, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization towards delivering small molecule development candidates is a plus.
• Extensive knowledge of state-of-the-art protein structural biology techniques including all aspects of construct design, expression, purification, characterization, crystallization, structure determination and analysis.
• Experience in single particle cryo-EM workflow including grid freezing and screening, data collection and processing, three-dimensional reconstruction and model building.
• General knowledge of signaling pathways, protein homeostasis, and regulation of gene expression in a diverse disease context. Experience in targeted protein degradation or molecular glues a plus. 
• Excellent presentation skills (written and oral) that enhance team-based delivery of results.
• Ability to work independently and effectively within timelines and to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Skills in managing multiple projects and capability to prioritize.

To Apply