Senior Associate Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology

Company Summary: Korro is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new class of genetic medicines for both rare and highly prevalent diseases using its proprietary RNA editing platform. Korro is generating a portfolio of differentiated programs that are designed to harness the body’s natural RNA editing process to effect a precise yet transient single base edit. By editing RNA instead of DNA, Korro is expanding the reach of genetic medicines by delivering additional precision and tunability, which has the potential for increased specificity and improved long-term tolerability. Using an oligonucleotide-based approach, Korro expects to bring its medicines to patients by leveraging its proprietary platform with precedented delivery modalities, manufacturing know-how, and established regulatory pathways of approved oligonucleotide drugs. Korro is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

•     Independently design and conduct routine and non-routine experiments to determine the efficacy of novel oligonucleotides in rodent models across a range of disease indications.

•     Perform dosing via subcutaneous (SC), intraperitoneal (IP) and intravenous (IV) routes; monitor animal health, collect blood samples, harvest multiple tissues, and coordinate sample storage and analysis.

•     Provide overall in vivo and ex vivo technical support for projects working to advance one or more experimental therapeutic compounds.

•     Serve as the subject matter expert on cross-functional project teams, providing scientific guidance on study design, data interpretation, and alignment with program needs, informed by ongoing review of relevant scientific literature.

•     Develop, optimize, and execute ELISA and hELISA assays to quantify target proteins, biomarkers and therapeutic candidates in biological matrices.

•     Support bioanalytical method development activities for the measurement of drug concentrations and pharmacodynamic endpoints in plasma, serum, and tissue samples.

•     Generate and analyze in vitro, in vivo pharmacology, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) data to characterize compound exposure and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationships.

•     Contribute to target engagement assessments by designing and executing appropriate biochemical and cell-based assays to evaluate on-target activity of RNA editing compounds.

•     Collaborate cross functionally with Discovery Chemistry, Translational Biology, and DMPK teams to support exposure response analyses and inform compound progression decisions and recommend future scientific direction.

•     Maintain meticulous records of all experimental procedures, raw data, and results in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN).

•     Effectively communicate experimental results, observations, and data summaries to team members and cross functional stakeholders through written reports and presentations, including in internal and external scientific meetings.

•     Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior scientists and peers, supporting their development in in vivo pharmacology and bioanalytical techniques.

•     Identify technical problems and contribute to improving and standardizing existing in vivo and bioanalytical procedures.

• M.S. or B.S. in Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or a related life sciences discipline, with 5+ years of relevant experience (M.S.) or 8+ years of relevant experience (B.S.) required. Knowledge of tissue processing and molecular biology methods including RNA purification, PCR, qPCR, sequencing, protein isolation, MSD, western blot.
• Hands-on experience with mouse colony management (animal handling, health assessment), dosing techniques (IV, SC, and IP), blood collection (tail vein/submandibular and cardiac puncture), and tissue collection at necropsy for ex vivo analysis.
• Knowledge of cardiometabolic/obesity models or experience with rodent models requiring low-stress handling is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in standard laboratory techniques including cell culture, aseptic technique, and sterile handling of biological samples.
• Hands-on experience or strong foundational knowledge in ELISA, hELISA assay design, execution, and troubleshooting for quantification of proteins, antibodies, or small molecules.
• Experience with bioanalytical method development and execution in support of in vivo and in vitro pharmacology or ADME studies is a plus.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization software such as Graph Pad Prism, Microsoft Office (including Excel) for summarizing and presenting pharmacology and bioanalytical data.
• Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) for data recording and experiment documentation.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills; meticulous in data recording and documentation.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment that requires continuous learning, quick course correction, and flexibility as priorities evolve.
• Naturally curious, eager to learn and understand the basic biologic mechanisms underpinning our products and the scientific rationale for RNA editing as a therapeutic modality.

Benefits:  Korro offers competitive compensation, including equity-based compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, a dependent care flexible spending account and a Company-funded health savings account and free parking.