Company:

Chronic kidney diseases are a severe and growing worldwide health challenge that affects 1 in 7 people.  Without effective treatments patients can experience kidney failure leading to dialysis and transplantation, a high burden to patients, families and the health care system. Despite recent advances for certain kidney disease patients, many forms of highly prevalent kidney diseases do not have effective treatments.  

Borealis was founded on the premise that a convergence of scientific and translational breakthroughs will enable RNA therapeutics to address some of the largest untreated kidney diseases and beyond.  Borealis builds on the success of Chinook Therapeutics, a kidney disease company with a research site in Vancouver that was acquired by Novartis in 2023 for up to $3.5 billion. The Borealis team has strong leadership and academic advisors who were central to research at Chinook, together with additional leadership in the field of RNA therapeutics. We are headquartered in Vancouver, BC, with state-of-the-art wet labs for molecular and cellular biology, in vivo pharmacology, chemistry, DMPK, bioinformatics and analytical capabilities.

We are a creative and innovative team that strives for excellence in all we do and has fun along the way. Our core focus is on helping patients and advancing science. For more information on Borealis, check out our sites https://borealisbio.com & https://www.linkedin.com/company/borealis-biosciences-inc.

We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most innovative talent on our team. We are building a diverse and inclusive workforce – come and be a part of our growth!  We strongly encourage candidates with less traditional backgrounds or those who may meet the qualifications in a different way to apply.

Position:

Borealis Biosciences is seeking an enthusiastic and collaborative lab-based Scientist to join the Translational Biology and Pharmacology team at our laboratories situated in Vancouver, Canada. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and supporting in vivo aspects of preclinical drug discovery programs, designing and performing pharmacology experiments to enable go/no-go decisions, and contributing to program and translational biology strategy at Borealis. Pharmacology experience in managing and performing multiple vivarium studies is essential. Experience with animal models of kidney disease and a strong understanding of kidney physiology and the mechanisms underlying chronic kidney disease are valuable assets.

The ideal candidate possesses strong communication and organizational skills, can function in a flexible and cross-functional environment, and is both an independent contributor and an effective collaborator. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with a talented multidisciplinary team in a dynamic scientific environment to unlock the promise of targeted RNA therapies for patients with kidney disease.

Responsibilities include:

• Design, perform, analyze and interpret in vivo pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and drug efficacy studies in rodents
• Work independently and collaboratively with team members to plan and execute in vivo studies; may be responsible for leading, supervising, and mentoring direct reports
• Interact and collaborate with oligonucleotide chemists, in vitro biologists and DMPK scientists to advance preclinical projects by designing and performing in vivo pharmacology studies
• Design and oversee the generation of transgenic and/or humanized mice
• Manage work being performed at external CROs
• Support translational and discovery efforts by providing guidance and expertise in kidney biology to identify and establish new in vivo disease models and biomarkers to interrogate mechanisms of action
• Contribute to defining team and department goals; collaborate within and outside of the Borealis Research team to ensure company success
• Contribute to publications and participate in scientific conferences as applicable
• Contribute to the team-focused company culture
  

Location:

• This is an on-site lab-based position located in Borealis Bio's Vancouver, BC headquarters.  Much of your time will be spent in conducting wet lab work.
• Relocation assistance is available for the successful candidate.  

Education, Experience, and Skills:

• PhD degree in physiology, pharmacology or another related discipline with minimum 2 years’ relevant experience in in vivo pharmacology; or Masters’ degree with minimum 7 years’ relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent written, verbal and cross-functional communication skills
• A proven track-record of leading and advancing projects in an academic, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology environment
• Extensive hands-on experience in designing, performing, analyzing and interpreting in vivo pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and drug efficacy studies in rodents
• Hands-on experience in performing endpoint assays, such as qPCR, ELISA, and/or immunohistochemistry
• A strong understanding of the mechanisms underlying chronic kidney disease
• Knowledge in the areas of kidney physiology/pharmacology and/or RNA therapeutics
• Experience in working with animal care committees is a plus
• Organized, self-motivated, and able to multitask and deliver results with high degree of attention to detail to drive projects forward in a timely manner; comfortable with adjusting workloads based upon changing priorities and willing to take on new tasks
• Able to work flexibly (e.g., early mornings or weekends) as study schedules dictate
• A sense of urgency to help patients and advance science, with high scientific and ethical standards
  

Compensation: The annual salary range is $113,000 - 131,000 and Borealis Bio provides competitive benefits including RRSP matching, extended medical, dental, vision and a Wellness Spending Account up to $1,800 per year.

Borealis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind.  We are committed to fostering an environment where ALL people are welcome and supported. We cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better business results. Creativity and innovation flourish in an environment of openness, inclusion, and mutual respect.

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