DNA Script

DNA Script is a leading company in manufacturing de novo synthetic nucleic acids using enzymatic DNA synthesis (EDS) technology. The company aims at accelerating innovation in life science and technology through the decentralization of rapid, on demand and high-quality DNA synthesis. DNA Script's approach leverages nature's billions of years of evolution in synthesizing DNA to set a new standard for customizing nucleic acid synthesis thus accelerating discovery in genetics, genomics, and synthetic biology. Discovery disciplines with profound impacts upon humanity such as biopharma, translational genetics and even molecular information storage all start with synthetic DNA. The company has recently initiated the commercialization of its first EDS powered platform, the SYNTAX system.

To date, DNA Script has raised over $315M of financing, with leading investors such as Coatue Management, Fidelity Management and Research, Catalio Capital Management, Casdin Capital, LSP, Bpifrance Large Ventures, Danaher, Illumina Ventures, Agilent, Merck Ventures, Sofinnova Partners, Kurma Partners, T Rowe Price, Baillie Gifford and Eurazeo.

DNA Script also partners on technology and product development with leading organizations such as DARPA, IARPA, Moderna Therapeutics, GE Research, Illumina, the Broad Institute, Harvard University, Institut Pasteur and the French Department of Defense.

DNA Script has its research and manufacturing facilities headquartered in Paris, France, and is in the process of expanding its commercial and development teams in South San Francisco.

Opportunity and Challenges :

We are looking to assemble a team of best-in-class, innovative and passionately eager people. We want to gather their talents and skills to achieve one goal: unlock the power of “DNA-write.” We offer the opportunity of joining a dynamic, international, and highly skilled team in a pioneering startup. Our DNA On Demand platform not only has the potential to change the way the world makes and uses synthetic DNA, but also to accelerate the rate of discovery by delivering upon the promise of same-day results.

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing company and to have a large impact on developing a technology that will have far-reaching impacts across biological sciences.

The role

DNA Script is looking for a senior surface chemistry scientist to lead the Surface Chemistry R&D team at Kremlin-Bicêtre in Paris. He or she will be responsible for developing and producing innovative solid supports for Enzymatic DNA Synthesis. Indeed, to enable EDS, a solid support is needed which has a grafted DNA needed as an initiator for the DNA polymerase. This solid support is of prime importance to provide good quality oligos and high yields. It is considered as one of our three key components along with the polymerase and the reversible terminator nucleotides.

He or she will therefore manage a team of surface chemists and technicians, whose mission is to develop new innovative material ( hydrogels, core shell particles, frits…), processes (microfluidic flow focusing, nano emulsion,..) or functionalization methods to procure to the R&D team and future customers the needed solid support best fitted for each applications.

He or she will also use analytical methods to characterize solid supports at different stages of the enzymatic DNA synthesis process by optical/confocal microscopy, DLS, gel filtration or other appropriate techniques. To perform these tasks, the candidate will need to be organized, proactive, detail-orientated, enjoy problem-solving, and be able to work in a multi-disciplinary environment as well as having proven management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Surface Chemistry R&D team to deliver outstanding solid support for EDS which are transferable to manufacturing.
• Develop, test and optimize new solid support and chemical coupling methods adapted to a variety of enzymatic DNA synthesis methods
• Do regular, state of the art and scientific scouting on the subject to stay at the cutting edge of the solid support technology (materials, coupling methods) as well as manufacturing processes (microfluidic, nano emulsions,…)
• Organize and develop solid surface characterization, in order to better follow, batch to batch variability and measure what is important for Enzymatic DNA Synthesis solid support.
• Measure porosity, loading capacity and non-specific absorption for each new solid support
• Determine the behaviour of solid supports during Enzymatic DNA Synthesis and their interactions with other key reagents (enzymes, nucleotides, etc.) to increase overall oligonucleotide purity and quantity
• Write reports and presentations
• Ensure transition of manufacturing solid support from R&D to product development, by implementing reasonable sale-up to a few hundred grams, and by providing SOPs and eventually QC methods.
• Provide solid support in a regular mode to other R&D team.
• Optimize solid supports based on feedback from synthesis tests or customers.
• Manage the R&D team by:
• Lead scientifically the team to excellence, in a close management of activities, commonly analysing, synthesizing the data and proposing short, medium and long term strategies and road maps
• Implement the HR policies (Hiring, feedback meetings, …)
• Demonstrate the company’s value (Transparency, benevolence and excellence)
• Ensure a good team spirit and a very collaborative mind set across all R&D teams.
• Ensure excellent communication with other teams

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Ph.D degree in a relevant subject (e.g. surface chemistry, physical chemistry, colloid and polymer chemistry)
• Have at least 1O years of experience in a relevant field
• Ability to design, execute, interpret, and troubleshoot experiments
• Hands-on experience in developing solid support characterization methods and characterizing them
• Have at least 5 years in team management in an R&D environment

• Highly motivated, passionate about developing tools and methods
• Excellent knowledge of Excel and other Microsoft Tools
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and systematic troubleshooting skills,
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a large multi-disciplinary team
• Dynamic with positive attitude willing to engage at a very high level
• Excellent English language level

Desirable

• Prior experience of producing polymeric beads by microfluidics
• Knowledge in biochemistry, in particular in DNA/ RNA and oligonucleotides chemistry
• Experience in the biotech/pharma industry
• Start-up mindset

Miscellanous

• Job located in Kremlin-Bicêtre (Paris area)
• Start date: ASAP