Project 8p Science Director

Job Type:

Full-time position average 40 hours/week.

Location:

Remote; willing to travel to NYC metro/Tri-state area 1 week/month to facilitate regular in-person meetings

Salary:

The position is compensated with a base salary that will be commensurate with the candidate's experience. Benefits can be offered.

About Project 8p Foundation:

Project 8p Foundation is a nonprofit biotech organization established in late 2018. We are researching 8p disorders to find treatment options and give meaningful answers to those affected and their families. We are patient-led and open science. Currently, there is no cure for 8p disorders, nor is there a standard course of treatment. Project 8p’s organizational philosophy is premised on stakeholders that are patient-centered for collaboration, transparency, and resource sharing to fulfill the mission. Project 8p is committed to translating research into medicines and aspires to scale learnings to other complex neurological chromosome diseases.

The Role:

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to lead multi-faceted research programs in academia or industry to accelerate moving discoveries out of the lab and into clinical development across multiple therapeutic modalities (drug repurposing, gene therapies, etc). This individual will have the unique opportunity to devise high-level scientific strategies, plan and implement specific projects, and communicate results to all 8p stakeholders, including families.

Responsibilities:

  •  Research Program Innovation and Cultivation: Continue to cultivate and grow our research programs and annually update the Research Roadmap.
  • Engagement and Partnership Development:
    1. Internally: Regularly meet with the CEO to provide updates and insights into research initiatives. Collaborate with program project directors; present research developments to the Board; facilitate and design plan for monthly research roundtables; host interactive family community updates
    2. Externally: Scientific Advisory Excellence: Seek out science advisors, biotech visionaries, nonprofit champions, and creative minds to shape this committee into a powerhouse of innovation.
  • Lead the charge in research-oriented meetings and dynamic webinars relevant to the field that drive innovation, collaboration, and transformative change in the field. Foster strategic partnerships within the rare disease arena, travel to patient advocacy events, speaker programs and conferences. Design initiatives that inspire families to actively participate in research.
  • Research Storytelling: Transform scientific breakthroughs into captivating narratives.
    Craft compelling monthly newsletters and synthesize research in a way that engages, motivates and excites both internal and external audiences.
  • Strategic Leadership:
    1. Grant Making and Evaluation: Identifying and soliciting new research projects and investigators, design of experiments and milestones, oversee existing and new program effectiveness and evaluate sponsored research projects. Establish and manage the Request for Applications (RFA) process and research network of Principal Investigators (PIs).
    2. Exhibit analytical prowess and strong project management skills. This includes budgeting and successful implementation of projects.
  • Fundraising: Identification of appropriate grant fundraising opportunities in the research and science-based fields. Assist with grant writing as appropriate.
  • Data Collection and Analysis Methods: Proficiency in considering innovative approaches to patient data collections and real-world evidence, such as video for gait analysis or other skills to monitor patients longitudinally with or without an intervention.
  • A Plus – Clinical Trial Readiness and Repurposed Trials: Demonstrated expertise in clinical trial readiness, including protocol development, patient recruitment, or regulatory compliance.

Professional Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated ability to analyze complex scientific information, with quantitative and qualitative analysis skills
  • Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate scientific information to lay audiences
  • Strong organizational abilities including effective planning, prioritization, delegation, program development and task facilitation
  • Ability to network in relevant fields
  • Proven track record in securing grant funding
  • Comfortable with a start-up mindset with the ability to work independently and with limited oversight and direction
  • Experience identifying biomarkers and clinical endpoints
  • Familiarity with science and research program budget preparation, analysis, and strategic decision-making
  • Creativity and personal dynamism
  • A plus
    1. Mission driven individual who personally advocates for people with disabilities
    2. Commercial orientation and success in business development. Experience in identifying and capitalizing on growth opportunities.

Education:

  • PhD or equivalent in the biological, biomedical, neurosciences, pharmacology or drug development
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required

Work Experience:

  • 2 to 5 years post-graduate experience working on scientific projects in an academic, industrial, or non-profit
  • Transparent and high integrity leadership in a collaborative setting with a team in a lab, advisory board, or a Board of Directors
  • Highly motivated and interested in rare disease research and cellular biology of modeling disease
  • Prior experience with preclinical and clinical studies, drug development or pharmaceutical/biotech industry
  • A plus if experience working or interacting with a research-oriented or patient advocacy nonprofit organization
  • Willing to travel 30-40%

Application Requirements:

Cover letter

  • Please explain what is compelling you to work on a complex rare disease and why you are interested in this position at a rare disease foundation
  • Please provide a brief description of your research interests and short-term and long-term goals

Resume/CV
Writing sample(s)

  •  Publication list, if applicable
  •  1 long-form of scientific writing for scientific or medical community
  • 1 short-form writing or presentation for general public, patients, caregivers

Please email to Bina Shah – bina@project8p.org

While we are a young organization looking to grow rapidly, we strongly encourage all candidates to apply that may fit some criteria, if not all.

The Project 8p Foundation (Project 8p) was created in 2018 to:

  • Accelerate future treatments, not only for 8p, but potentially for other chromosome-wide diseases as well.
  • Lead with knowledge from patients. Currently, there is no cure for 8p disorders, nor is there a standard course of treatment.

The Project 8p Foundation (Project 8p) was created in 2018 to:

  • Raise transformative funding for pioneering scientific research into treatments for a complex, rare disease involving 250+ affected genes on the short arm of the 8 th chromosome (8p). Rearrangements of these genes causes significant abnormalities to the entire neurological system, thus all organs and functions of the body– with variance in cognitive functions, gross motor skills, social development and other challenges during infancy, and throughout life;
  • Empower a unified community of 8p patients and their families so they can have meaningful lives today; and
  • Accelerate future treatments, not only for 8p, but potentially for other chromosome-wide diseases as well.