Platform Lead, Nucleic Acids

Title:
Platform Lead – Nucleic Acids

Location:
Princeton, NJ or Los Angeles, CA (currently hybrid) - must work 3 days per week from office

Reports To:
Preclinical VP for the Nucleic Acid Platform

Salary Range:  
$130,000 – $200,000.  Exact compensation will vary based on experience

Other:
Vaccination against COVID-19 is a prerequisite for employment at CHDI Management

About CHDI Foundation, Inc.
CHDI Foundation, Inc. is a privately funded nonprofit biomedical research organization exclusively dedicated to collaboratively developing therapeutics that will substantially improve the lives of those affected by Huntington’s disease (HD). CHDI has assembled a team of scientists and other professionals working in offices located in Los Angeles, New York City, and Princeton, NJ. Our scientists work closely with a network of more than 700 researchers in academic and industrial laboratories around the world in the pursuit of these novel therapies, providing strategic scientific direction to ensure that our common goals remain in focus.
CHDI works to increase the understanding of HD in order to hasten the development of therapeutic approaches. To achieve this goal, CHDI manages a diverse portfolio of research projects through a novel virtual model that encourages scientific collaboration, one which more directly connects academic research, drug discovery and clinical development. This helps bridge the translational gap that often exists between academic and industrial research pursuits and that adds costly delays to therapeutic development. In its role as a collaborative enabler, CHDI seeks to bring the right partners together to identify and address critical scientific issues and move drug candidates to clinical evaluation as rapidly as possible. Our activities extend from exploratory biology to the identification and validation of therapeutic targets, and from drug discovery and development to clinical studies and trials. More information about CHDI can be found at .

Description:
CHDI has a position open for an individual with nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) sequencing and analysis scientific experience and experience with vendor management to serve as the internal Nucleic Acid Platform Lead. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee external service providers to sequence and analyze DNA and RNA, evaluate sample and data QC, transfer data back to CHDI data management system
  • Transcriptomics (RNAseq and complementary technologies-digital droplet etc.)
  • Next Generation Genome Sequencing (NGS)
  • Whole genome and exome sequencing
  • MiSeq
  • Long read sequencing
  • Spatial transcriptomics
  • Single cell sequencing
  • DNA Triplet Repeat sizing and sequencing
• Evaluate and select service providers and assays of mature and robust “commoditized” nature to provide fit-for-purpose nucleic acids sequencing and analysis service for CHDI science directors and external collaborators
• Build collaborative relationships with service providers while remaining vigilant on quality and cost of services and data
• Identify and implement opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce cost while maintaining high quality services and data delivery
• Provide expertise to assist service providers to troubleshoot nucleic acids assays and sequencing workflows
• Support Nucleic Acids Platform Science Director with respect to exploration/execution of innovation projects
• Oversee Nucleic Acids platform CAG triplet repeat somatic instability work at service providers
• Interface with CHDI science directors with respect to Nucleic Acids platform projects including advising on technical design and execution through return of data and analyses
• Interface with CHDI Program Manager Organization and program managers assigned to the Nucleic Acid Platform with respect to Nucleic Acids platform projects, execution, and legal and financial oversight
• Provide relevant scientific and technical support to legal and finance C-Level
• Assure vendors and service providers adherence to CHDI policies and contract management

Requirements:

• Minimum B.S. degree, preferred M.S. or Ph.D. degree in molecular biology and/or genomics or biomedical engineering
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with NGS nucleic acids assays, workflows, and automation
• 5+ years of working experience with external NGS service providers, optimally in oversight/accountability role
• Optimally having served as NGS lab lead in an academic core group, service provider,  or biopharma
• Experience/Expertise with NGS assays: Sanger sequencing, DNA-seq and RNA-seq, single cell sequencing.
• Expertise with basic nucleic acids material isolation, handling, quantification and qualification
• Experience in downstream data QC and working collaboratively with analysts
• Demonstrated expertise in molecular biology techniques: DNA/RNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, gel electrophoresis, Sanger and NGS sequencing
• Hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing platforms and equipment including Illumina (NovaSeq, MiSeq), Qubit, Tape Station, and Fragment Analyzer is highly preferred
• Experience with project and contract management
• Proactive monitoring of external NGS service provider project progress and data quality
• Proactive monitoring of service provider landscape with respect to capabilities and capacity
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to suggest and implement new solutions independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail
• Track record of building excellent relationships with service providers
• Collaborative team member across scientific, project management and contract management activities

About CHDI Foundation, Inc.
CHDI Foundation is a private nonprofit biomedical research organization exclusively dedicated to collaboratively developing therapeutics that will substantially improve the lives of those affected by Huntington’s disease (HD).

About CHDI Management, Inc.
Our staff works for CHDI Management, Inc., which was established in 2002 to provide administrative and management services to CHDI Foundation, Inc.

About our Donors
CHDI’s activities focus solely on the collaborative development of therapeutics that will substantially improve the lives of those affected by Huntington’s disease. We are indebted to our donors, whose generosity and guidance have made possible this exclusive focus on science.