Associate Director/Director of DMPK

About us

Photys is an exciting early-stage biotechnology company developing novel bifunctional small molecules for fine-tuned control of post-translational modifications beyond ubiquitination. Building off the same principles that underpin PROTACs, we will unlock directed protein post-translational modifications as a disease-agnostic therapeutic strategy to treat oncology, immunological diseases, metabolic diseases as well as genetic disorders.

We are:

• PHEARLESS: We embrace new challenges. Our excellence is demonstrated through our scientific rigor, diligence, and creativity.
• PHOCUSED: Our trusting and inclusive culture enables our people to be engaged and empower each other to develop breakthrough medicines.
• PHRIENDLY: We act with integrity and care about each other’s development and wellbeing. Fostering collaborative relationships is crucial to our ability to prioritize the team’s success.

About the opportunity

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the deep knowledge and experience in DMPK required to drive heterobifunctional therapeutics to the clinic. The candidate will preferably have previous bifunctional experience and a demonstrated ability to support regulatory filings.

What you will do

• Partner with project team members across multiple projects to drive and establish strategies for lead optimization, compound progression and candidate selection.
• Partner with external consultants including toxicology, chemistry, CMC.
• Identify and understand the pharmacokinetics (PK) and absorption, metabolism, distribution, excretion (ADME) characteristics of lead compounds.
• Identifying ADME liabilities for a given scaffold and establish critical path assays to facilitate compound progression in medicinal chemistry.
• Design appropriate in vitro and/or in vivo assays to establish in vitro-in vivo correlations and PK/PD relationships to enable human dose predictions.
• Derive human dose predictions that will inform candidate selection.
• Clear communication and interpretation of results to project and leadership teams.
• Establish external preclinical DMPK studies and provide operational oversight of CROs for quality and performance of DMPK activities.
• Contribute to the development of functional processes and procedures focused on CRO interactions and organizational efficiency.
• Effectively communicate scientific planning, progress, and results to executive leadership, R&D teams, and external audiences.

About you

• BS/MS with 12+ years, Ph.D. with 7+ years experience in relevant small molecule bioanalytical & DMPK.
• A proven track record in DMPK, which includes experiences in identifying, conducting and interpreting critical path ADME experiments needed to identify development candidates is required.
• Demonstration of the ability to design the experiments needed to establish PK/PD relationships is required.
• Experience conducting, interpreting and communicating the results of hands-on experiments and/or those of outsourced ADME assays are essential.
• Experience as DMPK lead on heterobifunctional molecules is preferred.
• Experience writing and reviewing study reports, contributing to IND, IB and other regulatory documents is required.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, interpersonal, scientific thinking and problem-solving skills are required.
• Experience leading project planning and operational functions with CROs.
• Experience in a small company environment is highly desirable.

Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply. If your skills are relevant, and transferable, and you are excited about becoming part of the Photys team, do apply! Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

What we have to offer…

We are located in Waltham, MA and offer a hybrid work environment.

At Photys, compensation is unique to each candidate and based on a variety of factors such as skill set, experience, and qualifications. Photys benchmarks the compensation package against companies of similar size and growth-stage. Salary is just one part of the total compensation and benefits package. In addition to a selection of benefits that we offer below we offer equity and an annual bonus based on corporate goal achievement.  

Compensation Range: $180,000 - 240,000

We strive to care for our phenomenal people so they can show up as their best selves, some ways that we provide support are: 

• Inclusive community
• Phlexible work environment & PTO
• Team lunches (Tuesday & Thursday)
• Competitive and inclusive medical, dental, and vision coverage options
• Health Savings Account (HSA) to cover plan deductibles
• Dependent Care Account
• Photys paid Life, STD, and LTD insurance coverages 
• Generous Paid Leave offerings (including fully-paid parental leave for up to 20 weeks)
• 401K with match and financial planning tools
• Free parking or subsidized commuter passes
• Winter Break
• Employee Assistance Programs and Discount Services

Photys provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters. Any resume submitted to any employee(s) of Photys without a Photys vendor agreement in place will be considered unsolicited and property of Photys.