Principal Scientist/Associate Director, Oligonucleotide Translational Science

Description

Principal Scientist/Associate Director, Oligonucleotide Translational Science

Palo Alto, CA or Shanghai, China

Job Type: Full-time

About GondolaBio

GondolaBio is a clinical‑stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapeutics for genetic diseases. GondolaBio is an independent sister company to BridgeBio, originally carved out in 2024 after securing $300M in private financing from external investors. The company aims to leverage cutting‑edge biological research to discover, create, test, and deliver transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from genetic diseases.

Who You Are

You are a seasoned translational scientist with deep, hands‑on experience in oligonucleotide drug development—not just discovery. You have owned or directly contributed to IND‑enabling packages for siRNA and/or ASO programs, with personal experience running or closely directing preclinical pharmacology, DMPK, and safety studies rather than solely inheriting and interpreting data generated by others. You think in terms of program advancement: what data does the IND need, where are the gaps, and how do we get there rigorously and efficiently. You are as comfortable reviewing a biodistribution dataset or a metabolite identification report as you are discussing oligonucleotide chemistry or off‑target risk. You communicate complex preclinical findings clearly to cross‑functional partners and governance forums.

We are looking for someone whose core experience lies at the intersection of oligonucleotide pharmacology and IND‑enabling development. The ideal candidate has:

• Designed, managed, executed, and analyzed preclinical in vitro and in vivo IND‑enabling studies on PK, PD, efficacy, MoA and immunogenicity evaluations.
• Hands‑on experience with in vitro and in vivo ADME and DMPK studies: biodistribution, PK recovery, drug‑drug interactions (DDI), plasma protein binding (PPB), metabolic stability, and metabolite identification.
• Deep familiarity with conjugated oligonucleotides (e.g., GalNAc‑siRNA, antibody‑oligo conjugates) as a strong differentiator.
• Experience managing bioanalytical CRO vendors on PK and PD assays across diverse matrices, including LC‑MS/MS, ELISA, MSD ECL, hybrid‑ELISA, qPCR, and/or NGS (nice‑to‑have, not required).

Key Responsibilities

Preclinical DMPK & PK/PD Integration

• Lead or directly contribute to evaluation of oligonucleotide DMPK data: pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, tissue uptake, durability, and exposure‑response relationships.
• Collaborate with DMPK teams to assess PK/PD relationships and contextualize safety findings relative to systemic and tissue‑level exposure.
• Integrate DMPK insights into cohesive preclinical and translational narratives supporting candidate selection and IND filing.

Preclinical Safety & Off‑Target Risk Analysis

• Lead integration and interpretation of preclinical safety and pharmacology data, with a strong focus on off‑target effects and risk mitigation.
• Partner with toxicology and biology teams to distinguish target‑related from off‑target findings, assess dose‑limiting toxicities, and evaluate therapeutic index.
• Identify data gaps, recommend mechanistic or follow‑up studies, and support risk mitigation strategy.

IND‑Enabling Program Support

• Contribute directly to IND‑enabling study design and execution, including in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, ADME, and supporting safety packages.
• Serve as a senior scientific contributor to siRNA and/or ASO programs, providing expert review of oligonucleotide design strategies, chemistry, modification approaches, and conjugation strategies.
• Critically evaluate complex preclinical datasets and synthesize data‑driven recommendations for program decisions.

CRO & External Partner Oversight

• Provide scientific oversight of CRO‑executed studies—preclinical safety, in vivo pharmacology, bioanalytical, and DMPK—including study design input, protocol review, data package review, and final reports.
• Serve as primary scientific point of contact with external partners to ensure scientific rigor, clear communication, and timely delivery.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Decision Support

• Collaborate closely with chemistry, DMPK, toxicology, translational, and clinical teams to support data‑driven program decisions.
• Clearly communicate complex preclinical datasets in team meetings and governance forums.

Requirements

Preferred Education & Experience

• Ph.D. in pharmacology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field; or equivalent advanced degree with commensurate industry experience.
• 8+ years of industry experience in oligonucleotide drug development, with demonstrated ownership of IND‑enabling programs (siRNA and/or ASO strongly preferred).
• Direct, hands‑on experience with DMPK and ADME studies specific to oligonucleotide programs; experience through CRO oversight and data interpretation will also be considered.
• Prior experience contributing to one or more IND submissions, including preclinical pharmacology, DMPK, and/or safety packages. Strong working knowledge of oligonucleotide DMPK concepts: PK/PD, biodistribution, tissue uptake, off‑target assessment, and therapeutic index evaluation.
• Experience managing and collaborating with CROs on study design, execution, and data review.
• Strong data analysis, scientific communication, and presentation skills.

Nice‑to‑Haves

• Direct experience with conjugated oligonucleotides (GalNAc‑siRNA, antibody‑oligo conjugates, or similar ligand‑based delivery approaches).
• Bioanalytical experience managing vendors on PK and PD assays across diverse matrices (LC‑MS/MS, ELISA, MSD ECL, hybrid‑ELISA, qPCR, NGS).
• Exposure to translational or biomarker‑related studies.
• Chinese Mandarin language proficiency (spoken and/or written).
• Prior experience in a small or fast‑growing biotech environment.

Our Team Values

• Patient Champions—patients first and upholding strict ethical standards.
• Entrepreneurial Operators—drive toward practical solutions and have an ownership mindset.
• Truth Seekers—detailed, rational, and humble problem solvers.
• Inspire Excellence—excellence in themselves and others.
• High‑quality executors—executing against goals and milestones with quality, precision, and speed.

What We Offer

• Patient Days: opportunities to hear directly from individuals living with the conditions we are seeking to impact.
• A culture inspired by our values: put patients first, think independently, be radically transparent, and let the science speak.
• An unyielding commitment to always putting patients first.
• Decentralized model that enables program teams to focus on advancing science.
• A place where you own the vision—for your program and your career path.
• A collaborative, fast‑paced, data‑driven environment that inspires continuous performance.
• Access to learning and development resources for career growth.
• Robust and market‑competitive compensation & benefits: base, performance bonus, equity, health, welfare, and retirement programs.
• Flexible PTO.
• Rapid career advancement for strong performers.
• Potential to work on multiple GondolaBio Pharma programs across therapeutic areas over time.
• Partnerships with leading institutions.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Compensation

The base pay range for this position in the United States is $185,000 to $215,000 per year. The actual compensation offered will be determined based on a number of job‑related factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, and location. A bonus plan and equity will also be offered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

GondolaBio ServiceCo is an equal‑opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Employees of BridgeBio and all affiliated companies should work through their managers to inquire about and learn more about this role.