Senior Scientist/Matrix Lead Brain-Shuttle

Roche

Penzberg, Germany

The Position

You will join Roche's Therapeutic Modalities (TMo) organization, accountable for translating disease biology into high quality drug candidates through large molecule and mixed modality approaches. By integrating deep modality expertise with cross disciplinary collaboration, TMo drives innovation within and across modalities to enable differentiated and sustainable therapeutic impact.

In this environment, we are seeking an experienced Science and Matrix Leader (m/f/d) with a strong scientific background in cell biology, and a specific focus on neuroscience. The role requires significant industrial experience in drug discovery and development, encompassing the entire journey from target assessment to Entry into Human. You will expertly lead cross-functional teams, contribute to portfolio projects, and drive the implementation of cutting-edge cell-based functional assays to discover and characterize large molecule-based therapeutics.

Given the increasing importance of biologics for central nervous system diseases, the successful candidate will bring deep scientific expertise in blood brain barrier biology, CNS drug delivery, and translational strategies enabling the delivery of biologics to the brain, including Brainshuttle based approaches.

The opportunity

You will lead and inspire highly engaged cross-functional matrix teams, foster effective collaboration, and cultivate trusting relationships with internal and external partners.
You will be responsible for defining the cellular assay strategy in neuroscience projects and oversee data analysis for mode-of-action elucidations and in vitro lead selection in portfolio projects, with a particular focus on advanced, physiologically relevant human model systems.
You will work closely with project teams and platform experts to evaluate and advance innovative therapeutic concepts for CNS diseases, including biologics designed for blood brain barrier transport and enhanced brain exposure through Brainshuttle and related delivery technologies.
You will conceptually develop and set up novel functional cellular assays in the field of Neuroscience, employing cutting-edge assay read-out technologies including flow cytometry and advanced fluorescence microscopy to support our neuroscience-relevant portfolio for large molecules and gene therapy.
You will provide scientific leadership in the development and application of translational human cellular model systems and assays to characterize blood brain barrier transport, CNS target engagement, pharmacodynamic activity, and mechanism of action, thereby supporting the discovery and optimization of next generation CNS targeted biologics and brain delivery technologies.

Your Profile

A PhD in biology with a focus in neuroscience, or another relevant scientific discipline, forms the foundation of your scientific expertise.
Extensive industrial experience in large-molecule and gene therapy drug discovery, with a focus on a neuroscience-relevant portfolio, in particular leading cell-based assay development for therapeutic candidate selection in physiologically relevant model systems, including primary cells, iPSCs, organs-on-a-chip, and organoids.
Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire highly engaged matrix teams, ideally as a project leader in drug discovery projects.
Solid experience in assay readout technologies such as flow cytometry, live-cell imaging (such as Incucyte) and advanced fluorescence microscopy (confocal, super-resolution, FLIM, smFISH, and high-content imaging).
You have a strong background in cell biology and neuroscience, combined with a deep understanding of blood brain barrier biology and biologics delivery to the central nervous system.
You are recognized for your scientific contributions to CNS biologics discovery, blood brain barrier transport, or translational neuroscience. You possess deep expertise in Brainshuttle technologies or related approaches for receptor mediated transport across the blood brain barrier, including receptor mediated transcytosis, CNS pharmacology, and translational strategies for brain delivery of biologics. Experience in developing and applying translational in vitro model systems to evaluate brain delivery, CNS exposure, target engagement, and pharmacological activity is highly desirable.
A keen interest in working with digital and computational approaches for multiparameter data analysis in (semi-) automated workflows. Experience with high-throughput screening platforms and large data analysis is an advantage.
Proven scientific excellence demonstrated through significant scientific contributions, patents, or publications in leading journals within your field.
You are resourceful, innovative and flexible in problem solving and work collaboratively and inclusively, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.