PopVax is an Indian full-stack biotech building first-in-class and best-in-class vaccines and cancer immunotherapies using machine learning-driven design and relentless empiricism. We design, develop, and manufacture our own RNA medicines end-to-end because we believe great pharmaceutical science can only flourish in tight feedback loops that iterate rapidly. PopVax’s experimental work and clinical dose production is based at the RNA Foundry, our integrated R&D and GMP-capable clinical dose production facility in Hyderabad.

PopVax's north star is our goal of developing novel vaccines and therapeutics over the next decade with the cumulative ability to save 1 million lives each year – the Million Lives Mission. To that end, we are developing first-in-class vaccines against Hepatitis C Virus, Strep A, and adult pulmonary TB, broadly-protective best-in-class vaccines against COVID-19, influenza, and HPV, and precision immunotherapies against hard-to-treat solid tumours such as liver cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Our work is funded by Vitalik Buterin’s Balvi Fund, the Gates Foundation, the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and Renaissance Philanthropy. Our first vaccine program will begin a Phase I clinical trial in the US in mid-2026 conducted & sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We intend to put 6 novel vaccines and immunotherapies into Phase I clinical trials over the next 3 years.

No matter the job title, each person’s role at PopVax is ultimately focused on helping take safe & effective new medicines that represent a step-change improvement on the current standard-of-care to the people who need them as fast as possible. If you want to work where the ambition is high, the learning curve is steep, and the work matters to billions, you’ll feel at home here.

If you’re excited by the idea of advancing scientific, clinical, and regulatory frontiers of vaccines and immunotherapies, spending each day developing medicines with the potential to save millions of lives, and building a generational global pharmaceutical company in India along the way – join us!

As our first program moves into the clinic, we are beginning preclinical work on a variety of novel mRNA vaccines and therapeutics in parallel. As such, we are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented researcher to plan, coordinate, and supervise ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) studies, including bio distribution, and GLP toxicology studies for PopVax’s novel mRNA vaccine and therapeutic candidates – we expect we will be preparing up to 5 such candidates for IND next year. This is a unique opportunity to operate on the frontier of our understanding of the physiological impact of cutting-edge protein design and nucleic acid modalities.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Designing in vitro and in vivo toxicology and ADME studies aligning with relevant scientific and regulatory standards, in particular those that apply in India, the United States, Europe, and ICH jurisdictions broadly – this also requires staying current with changes in these guidelines and requirements.

• Writing and reviewing complete study protocols for toxicology and ADME studies.

• Analysing toxicokinetic and pharmacokinetic data to assess safety profiles for our vaccine and therapeutic candidates, and preparing detailed reports to communicate these findings to internal and external stakeholders.

• Preparing and formatting toxicology and ADME data for IND filings. 

• Collaborating cross-functionally with R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Control, and Quality Assurance to conduct and document studies. 

• Instructing, coordinating with, and reviewing the work of Contract Research Organisations  (CROs) engaged to execute toxicology and ADME studies.

Necessary qualifications:

• Hands-on experience writing and reviewing protocols for in vivo toxicology and/or ADME studies.

• A strong conceptual understanding of haematology, clinical chemistry, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

• Hands-on experience working with mice and rats in the context of toxicology and ADME studies.

• Knowledge of regulatory guidelines and requirements for toxicology and ADME studies for novel molecules, ideally across Indian, US, European, and ICH jurisdictions.

• Strong proficiency in written and spoken English, in particular the ability to write, proofread, and edit complex technical documents from scratch.

• Extensive experience with using one or more of Microsoft Office (Word & Excel) and Google Docs (Docs & Sheets), including advanced features such as version control (Track Changes), the use of custom formulae, and pivot tables. 

• Excellent problem-solving, organisational, and communication skills.

• Strong applied mathematical skills, including basic statistical analysis, in particular hypothesis testing, as well as basic proficiency in data visualisation.

• The willingness and ability to learn quickly and adapt to rapid changes in a fast-paced environment.

• A drive to see projects through to completion.

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Experience with IVIS.

• Exposure to analytical techniques such as LC-MS/MS and qRT-PCR.

• Exposure to bioassays like ELISA, Cytometric Bead Array, and MSD.

• Previous engagement in communications and/or negotiations with CROs.

• Relevant industry experience in a reputed CRO working on toxicology and ADME studies.

• Some knowledge of molecular biology and formulation development.

• Experience participating in meetings with regulators such as the US FDA.

We offer very competitive compensation, comprehensive health insurance with the option to cover immediate family (including pre-existing conditions), and, most importantly, a collaborative work environment focused on solving the cutting-edge multidisciplinary challenges of our novel mRNA platform.