PopVax is an Indian biotechnology company based in Hyderabad, with a primarily remote US subsidiary nominally based in New York. We are funded via research agreements with the Gates Foundation and Vitalik Buterin’s biosecurity company Balvi. For the past year, we have been building a novel second-generation mRNA platform for low-cost broadly-protective vaccines via computationally-driven antigen design, starting with an open-source booster vaccine candidate that is intended to protect against the entire sarbecovirus species and, if things go well, the betacoronavirus genus, including current and future strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. We work extensively on novel LNP formulations and other mechanisms for nucleic acid delivery, including the design and synthesis of novel charged lipids, and are hiring aggressively in this area. 

We are looking for a senior synthetic chemist with deep expertise in the design and synthesis of novel lipids, in particular cationic and ionizable lipids for nucleic acid delivery, to join our team. While, all things being equal, we prefer candidates who are willing to work in person at one of our wet labs in Hyderabad, we are willing to consider exceptionally-qualified candidates from anywhere in the world who wish to work remotely.

Viable candidates will have demonstrated competence in de novo lipid design for nucleic acid delivery applications. We expect the individual we hire to be able to independently generate a number of viable lipid designs for use in mRNA-LNP formulations targeting various desirable properties, including:

1. increased mRNA expression in vivo

2. increased thermostability

3. reduced reactogenicity and toxicity

4. targeted delivery to relevant tissues and cell types

The ideal candidate will also have experience working on high-througput in vitro screening of novel lipids and LNP formulations, along with strong experience with and understanding of how changes to lipid design manifest in vivo.

We offer very competitive compensation, comprehensive health insurance covering immediate family (including pre-existing conditions) [note: for Remote candidates, health insurance may vary based on country of residence], and, most importantly, a collaborative work environment focused on solving the cutting-edge multidisciplinary challenges of our novel mRNA platform.