About the Company Hillstar Bio, a precision immunology company that recently completed a sizable Series A financing with a syndicate of blue chip investors (Droia, Frazier, Novo, LifeArc).
Hillstar aspires to build a portfolio of programs against autoimmune diseases with unmet or underserved medical needs. Its lead program is an antibody designed to selectively target a root cause of Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). CAD is a chronic, rare (incidence 15/million) but debilitating condition with high morbidity (anemia, fatigue, cold-induced circulatory symptoms). SLE on the other hand, affects an estimated 3 million adults worldwide, with symptoms affecting various organs including joints, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. Existing treatment options for CAD and SLE have limited effectiveness, carry considerable safety risks, and fail to address key disease symptoms in a large proportion of patients, leading to significant chronic morbidity and excess mortality. By bringing this new precision modality to patients, Hillstar aims to improve on safety and efficacy, as well as durability of response, setting a new gold standard for the management of CAD, SLE, and potentially other serious autoimmune conditions with a common biological origin.
Job Description Join Hillstar Bio as a protein analytics leader performing antibody characterization, developability assessment, pre-formulation and DS/DP releasing assays, and working with a skilled team towards achieving our first IND milestone. Establish platforms of antibody characterization, developability assessment, formulation, protein QC and DS/DP specification. Develop and delineate distinctive protein analytics strategies of programs by corroboration with antibody discovery, immunology and CMC groups.
This pivotal role offers opportunities to shape our company culture, contribute to organization growth, and make a significant impact on treatment of autoimmune disease to benefit patients. We seek an enthusiastic scientist with extensive hands-on experience, broad knowledge in a variety of advanced biophysical characterization techniques, and strong cross-functional collaborative mindset in a fast-paced environment.
Key duties and accountability • This position is for a bench scientist, requiring a commitment of over 60% of your time in the laboratory.
• Perform reagent QC, biophysical and biochemical protein characterization and antibody developability/manufacturability assessment in all stages of antibody development.
• Perform formulation and stability study.
• Manage analytical method development and validation under ICH guideline.
• Establish DS/DP specifications.
• Lead development candidate (DC) nomination.
• Interpret results and communicate within Antibody Research and cross-functional colleagues for successful execution/completion of project.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new and existing technologies to improve protein characterization capabilities, throughput, and quality.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and write SOPs.
• Monitor, maintain, and calibrate laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Proactively share skills and knowledge and train others on techniques and protocols.
Requirements Qualifications • MS or PhD in Biochemistry, Biology, or a related field with at least 5+ years (MS) or 2+ years (PhD) of relevant industrial experience in protein analytics and characterization
• Expertise in affinity determination and epitope binning using Octet, ELISA, and SPR.
• Strong hands-on experience in protein biophysical characterization techniques such as DSF, DSC, SEC-MALS, DLS, Octet, CE, icIEF, HPLC-based assays (SEC, HIC, IEX, etc.)
• Experience with ELISA-based specificity screening of mAbs (PSR, DNA, insulin, serum binding assays) is desirable.
• Experience in CMC management of analytical method validation.
• Experience with DS/DP GMP stability study and specification.
• Experience with Flow cytometry is a plus.
• Master in the efficient execution of highly robust, reproducible, well-documented laboratory experiments and results reporting.
• Ability to establish and troubleshoot experiments.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with strong attention to detail is a must.
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, team-oriented environment with colleagues from diverse disciplines.
Benefits Compensation and Benefits Hillstar Bio offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including a competitive salary, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package.
Additional Information This is a full-time position located in our Boston, MA office. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
