Character Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company working to preserve vision in people with serious, progressive eye diseases. Founded in 2018, the company has built the most advanced disease intelligence system for drug development in ophthalmology, starting with dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This system fully integrates genomics with longitudinal clinical and imaging data to characterize the pathogenic drivers of disease progression.

Leveraging the insights from its disease intelligence system, Character is advancing two innovative, homegrown programs in Phase 1 studies while continuing to expand its discovery-stage pipeline. The company’s interdisciplinary team spans observational clinical research, data science and AI, drug discovery, clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Character is well capitalized, having raised more than $110 million in Series B financing from leading healthcare and technology investors, and maintains a multi-target drug discovery collaboration with Bausch + Lomb. 

Role: Scientist/Senior Scientist, Translational Biology

Reports to: Associate Director, Biology

Department: Scientific R&D

Team: Biology

Level: Scientist/Senior Scientist

Location: Brisbane, CA

The Opportunity

We are seeking a talented Scientist or Senior Scientist to join our Biology team. This role leads the preclinical mechanism-of-action work behind our two clinical-stage programs: a potential best-in-class complement inhibitor and a potential first-in-class lipid-modulating agent, both designed to slow the rate of retinal cell death and vision loss. The role deepens our understanding of how these assets work, evaluates next-generation forms of each mechanism, and assesses new disease applications for them. This is a hands-on, individual contributor position based at our Brisbane, CA site, reporting to the Associate Director, Biology. Candidates with diverse scientific backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute and interpret in vitro studies that extend the mechanism of action of our clinical-stage assets in disease-relevant cell systems, including primary and iPSC-derived RPE, microglia, retinal and endothelial models

• Evaluate next-generation forms of these mechanisms and alternative delivery approaches for retained expression, activity and potency

• Build the in vitro biology that connects clinical biomarker readouts to drug mechanism, and support interpretation of emerging clinical biomarker and PK data

• Assess new disease applications for existing mechanisms, building the cell models and readouts in the relevant tissue context

• Collaboratively design and manage the execution of in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD studies with CROs

• Present data and recommendations at internal and external meetings to audiences of diverse scientific backgrounds

About You

You reason across biology. You can take a mechanism, infer where else in human pathology it may be relevant, form a testable hypothesis, and design the experiment that would prove or disprove it. You are hands-on at the bench, rigorous with data, and able to scope and troubleshoot an experiment independently.  

• PhD in cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology or a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of postdoctoral or industry experience

• Deep hands-on capability in mammalian cell culture, quantitative functional assays including immunoassays, flow cytometry, high content imaging and qPCR

• Experience building and qualifying cell-based assays, including comparative potency assays able to discriminate between closely related variants

• Rigorous quantitative analysis, familiarity with basic statistical methods, and meticulous experimental documentation

• Evidence of thinking across unfamiliar biologies, such as moving into a new field or taking a mechanism into a new tissue or disease context

• Experience designing and managing in vivo studies with CROs is preferred

• Experience evaluating AAV or other gene-therapy constructs, or protein-engineered variants, for expression, activity or potency is preferred

• Must be able to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, with strong written and verbal communication skills

• Research experience in the following fields is preferred but not required: complement biology, cholesterol and lipid trafficking, ocular diseases

Compensation & Benefits

The annual pay range for this full-time position is $115,000 - $170,000 + equity + benefits. Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications and work location.

Benefits include a competitive salary, strong equity incentives, medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and an accrued paid time off policy. Character is committed to recruiting, developing, and supporting colleagues from all backgrounds. We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as an integral part of our culture.

EEO Statement

Character Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.