Description

Position Overview 

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Principal Scientist in Toxicology & Pharmacology to contribute to strategy and execution of nonclinical safety and pharmacology for our next-generation targeted therapy technology based on pre-targeting enabled by click chemistry. 

You will work together with chemistry, biology, and ADME/PK teams to design, lead, and interpret toxicology and pharmacology studies that contribute to therapeutic design, candidate selection, IND-enablement, and clinical strategy in a fast-paced startup environment. 

Key Responsibilities 

Nonclinical Safety Strategy

• Contribute to and execute toxicology strategy for pre-targeted therapeutics, including IND-enabling studies
• Design GLP and non-GLP toxicology studies 
• Identify, characterize, and mitigate safety risks 
• Establish safety margins and therapeutic index for candidate molecules 

Pharmacology & Translational Science

• Contribute to pharmacology strategy to demonstrate proof of mechanism and proof of concept
• Design and interpret in vivo efficacy studies including model selection/characterization, study design, working with CROs to execute the study, and data analysis/presentation
• Define exposure-response relationships 
• Collaborate on dose and schedule optimization 

Cross-Functional Integration

• Partner with ADME/PK to integrate pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and exposure-response modeling
• Work closely with chemistry and protein engineering teams to guide design toward safer and more effective molecules
• Collaborate with CMC and analytical teams to ensure appropriate characterization of each therapeutic component 
• Support regulatory strategy, including authoring and reviewing IND sections (e.g., nonclinical overview, tox summaries) 

Risk Assessment & Decision Making

• Develop safety assessment frameworks tailored to our pre-targeting approach
• Drive candidate selection by balancing efficacy, exposure, and safety
• Present findings and recommendations to leadership, board members, and external partners 

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• PhD, DVM, or equivalent in Toxicology, Pharmacology, or related discipline
• 4+ years of industry experience in nonclinical safety and/or pharmacology
• Demonstrated experience leading IND-enabling toxicology programs
• Strong background in small molecules, biologics, or targeted delivery systems (e.g., ADCs, radioconjugates, bispecifics)
• Experience designing and interpreting in vivo toxicology and pharmacology studies
• Familiarity with regulatory expectations (FDA/ICH) for nonclinical development 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with pre-targeting strategies
• Familiarity with bioorthogonal click chemistry (e.g., tetrazine–TCO systems)
• Background in oncology or other areas involving targeted therapies
• Experience evaluating on-target vs. off-target toxicities in complex systems
• Knowledge of safety considerations for reactive intermediates or payload-driven toxicity
• Experience integrating PK/PD and tox data for translational modeling
• Strong publication record and presentation skills