Scientist – Microbial Synthetic Biology – Non-model bacteria and phage engineering

PARIS, FRANCE          FULL TIME

— About Eligo —

Eligo Bioscience, backed by top-tier investors from Silicon Valley and Europe, is pioneering next-generation microbiome therapeutics. Co-founded by MIT and Rockefeller University scientists, Eligo is headquartered in Paris, France. Our mission is to address unmet medical needs in inflammatory and infectious diseases, as well as oncology, through groundbreaking gene-editing medicines.

Our first-in-class synthetic biology platform has earned Eligo numerous international awards and recognition, including being named one of the World Economic Forum’s “30 Most Innovative Companies” and has been featured in international press Nature, Science, The Economist, BBC, The New York Times, etc.

More recently, our latest work pas published in Nature this summer (In situ targeted base editing of bacteria in the mouse gut)

— Organization Context // Why Join Us? —

With over $50M in funding (including a recent $35M Series B), we’re well-positioned for our next major milestones: advancing our first drug in clinical trials by 2026, progressing a stealth project with a Top-10 Pharma partner, and exploring new applications for our technology.

Our team of 30+ “Eligonauts” is deeply invested in pushing scientific boundaries within a vibrant, collaborative culture. We embrace diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion and are committed to building diverse teams in a fast-paced environment fostering scientific excellence and benevolence.

— The role —

As a member of our SynBio team, you’ll be at the forefront of Eligo’s pioneering platform technology, working on the engineering of phage-derived particles (Eligobiotics) that can precisely deliver therapeutic DNA payloads to (re)program various bacterial species directly in the microbiome.

We’re seeking an ambitious and skilled Synthetic Biologist with expertise in non-model bacterial and/or phage engineering to help us design, test, and optimize our next generation of Eligobiotics, and develop microbial cell lines for their production.

This role offers a unique opportunity to explore frontier science, developing and optimizing novel genetic tools and circuits for bacterial species that are largely uncharted. You’ll also engineer innovative DNA delivery systems, advancing in vivo microbiome editing in ways that have never been attempted. In close collaboration with teams in Bioinformatics, Microbiology, In Vivo, and Manufacturing, you’ll help drive forward discoveries that push the boundaries of microbiome editing.

— Key Responsibilities —

• Develop and optimize novel genetic tools in non-model bacteria
• Build, test, debug and optimize genetic circuits for strain and phage engineering
• Tune genetic expression on developed circuits for efficient function of the drug in target bacterial species
• Engineer new DNA packaging and delivery systems based on engineered phages
• Work hand-in-hand with other scientists to accelerate the process of Eligobiotics engineering

— Qualifications —

• Ph.D. in a relevant field (i.e., molecular biology, microbiology, synthetic biology, etc).
• Demonstrated experience with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques (i.e. Gibson, Golden gate or CRISPR, etc)
• Demonstrated strong experience with non-model bacteria including anaerobic bacteria
• Phage expertise is a plus
• Self-starter with strong attention to detail and accuracy and an ability to work independently to solve technical problems
• Ability to multitask without compromising quality and accuracy
• Effective management of time and effort to meet deadlines
• Strong interactive skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Strong collaborative attitude essential

— Benefits —

— Additional perks —