Principal Scientist si-RNA Design

Roche seeks a Principal Scientist for si-RNA Design in Basel, CH, to lead drug design strategies and optimize therapeutic siRNAs within the pRED organization.

This position is part of Roche's Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED) organization, specifically within the Therapeutic Modalities (TMo) group. The role focuses on translating disease biology into high-quality drug candidates by designing and optimizing therapeutic siRNA against various disease targets, spanning from Target Assessment through Lead Optimization.

Responsibilities

• Direct the drug design strategy for oligonucleotides, with a primary emphasis on siRNAs, using both computational and empirical methods.
• Oversee projects comprehensively to ensure that initial design choices meet the demands of late-stage clinical trials and manufacturing.
• Apply and develop advanced chemical modification patterns and sequence selection strategies to improve the pharmacological properties of siRNAs.
• Collaborate closely with AI experts to create, validate, and implement AI-driven design solutions.
• Serve as the RNAi subject matter expert, working alongside project teams and disease specialists.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience specifically in siRNA/RNAi therapeutic design.
• Deep understanding of the RNAi mechanism and profiling of siRNA therapeutics.
• Proven track record in applying chemical modification patterns of siRNA to enhance therapeutic profile.
• Familiarity with the interface of biology and data science; hands-on experience with command-line utilities and scripting languages for biological sequence analysis and data management.

What the company offers

• A culture that encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections.
• A culture defined by curiosity, responsibility, and humility.
• Empowerment to explore new possibilities and foster creativity.

About the company

Roche is a global company with more than 100,000 employees dedicated to advancing science. Its mission is to transform science into medicines and tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. The company fosters a culture that encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections where employees are valued, accepted, and respected.

• Encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections.
• Defined by curiosity, responsibility, and humility.
• Empowers employees to explore new possibilities and foster creativity.