Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Preclinical Research and Development

Cullinan Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating new standards of care for patients.

We have strategically built a diversified portfolio of clinical-stage assets that inhibit key drivers of disease or harness the immune system to eliminate diseased cells in both oncology and autoimmune disease. Our portfolio encompasses a wide range of modalities, each with the potential to be best and/or first in class.

Anchored in a deep understanding of oncology, immunology, and translational medicine, we create differentiated ideas, identify the most appropriate targets, and select the optimal modality to develop transformative therapeutics across a wide variety of cancer and autoimmune indications.

We push conventional boundaries from candidate selection to differentiated therapeutic, applying rigorous go/no go criteria at each stage of development to fast-track only the most promising molecules to the clinic and, ultimately, commercialization.

With deep scientific expertise, our teams exercise creativity and urgency to deliver on our promise to bring new therapeutic solutions to patients. 

Summary:

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and/or supporting preclinical drug discovery biologics programs in the Cullinan Therapeutics pipeline. All research activities will be conducted in a virtual manner, with the position overseeing projects through a global network of contract research organizations and research collaborations. Oversight may span early discovery to development candidate selection and IND-enabling studies. The primary responsibility of the position will be to direct research projects and work collaboratively to develop the next generation of novel assets for Cullinan’s autoimmune disease and oncology pipeline. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Design and execute project strategies and research plans, including assay design, technical workflow management, resource allocation, and timelines
• Lead and oversee contract research organizations in discovery efforts including biologics construct design and generation, in vitro characterization, in vivo models, and mechanistic studies
• Day-to-day oversight of external research efforts including identification of vendors, review/approval of work orders, protocol design, data review, statistical analysis, data management/organization, assay optimization, and troubleshooting
• Develop budget forecasts for drug discovery programs, including review of active contracts and long-term planning
• Oversee logistical management of Cullinan samples, including shipment/storage of materials and maintaining a current inventory
• Deliver impactful presentations to share data and project updates with colleagues including senior leadership and external audiences
• Lead internal technical discussions on preclinical projects
• Develop innovative strategies to efficiently advance existing programs
• Lead internal innovation projects and generate ideas for new pipeline programs
• Stay up-to-date on relevant scientific literature and competitive landscape; attend scientific conferences and debrief on relevant developments
• Author/review regulatory submission documents related to nonclinical IND-enabling studies, as well as poster and manuscript submissions
• Participate in due diligence activities evaluating potential new assets for addition to Cullinan’s portfolio

Candidate Requirements:

• Early career scientist with 1-4 years of industry experience
• PhD in immunology, protein engineering, cancer immunotherapy, or closely related fields
• Extensive expertise in autoimmunity and autoimmune disease models; experience in protein design & engineering and/or cancer immunology research is preferred
• Experience with IND-enabling studies and/or evaluation of drug asset value propositions is a plus
• Proven ability to quickly pivot into new areas of research
• Innovative thinker with strong attention to detail
• Self-motivated with genuine interest in working collaboratively within and across teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with Cullinan colleagues and liaise with contract research organizations and other external partners
• Agility to effectively manage multiple projects in parallel with a sense of urgency and flexibility to adapt quickly in a dynamic environment

Cullinan Therapeutics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment for all employees and applicants without regard to a person’s race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any characteristic protected under applicable law.