About this Associate Director, Discovery Pharmacology role at Amylyx Pharmaceuticals
Amylyx has an audacious mission to usher in a new era for treating diseases with high unmet needs. Where others see challenges, we see opportunities that we pursue with urgency, rigorous science, and unwavering commitment to the communities we serve. We are a clinical-stage company currently focused on post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH), Wolfram syndrome, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Our mission is powered by our people. Our core values – be audacious, be curious, be authentic, be engaged, and be accountable – creating a culture of caring. Amylyx has assembled an experienced team ready to take action because the communities we serve have no time to wait. If you share our passion and are determined to tackle some of medicine’s toughest problems, we encourage you to read the opportunity below and apply.
The Opportunity
This person will:
- Lead discovery pharmacology strategy and execution from target concept through candidate nomination and IND-enabling entry, with modality-informed approaches for small molecules, peptides, small biologics, and antisense oligonucleotides.
- Design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret biochemical, biophysical, cell-based, functional, and mechanism-of-action assays that establish potency, efficacy, selectivity, target engagement, drug-like properties, and biological relevance using a 100% external model with CROs and academic collaborators.
- Own the pharmacology work needed to link exposure, target engagement, pharmacodynamic response, tolerability, early look at translational biomarkers, and early regulatory expectations into a clear rationale for advancing discovery programs.
- Mentor and develop scientific talent while fostering a culture of rigorous experimental design, cross-functional collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Responsibilities
- Generate, analyze, and synthesize pharmacology datasets to characterize drug like properties, establish proof of concept, define liabilities and/or optimization opportunities, and recommend next experiments, using a 100% externalized model.
- Support or lead early in vivo or ex vivo proof-of-concept studies when needed, ensuring that study design is tied to the pharmacology hypothesis and stage-appropriate decision criteria.
- Apply experience across therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, small biologics, and antisense oligonucleotides, to select appropriate assay formats and interpretation frameworks.
- Conduct deep scientific diligence on new targets to develop target rationale and experimental paradigm.
- Partner closely with toxicology, bioanalytical, translational biology, and clinical pharmacology colleagues to connect pharmacology readouts with exposure, target engagement, and early developability considerations.
- Manage and direct CROs, academic collaborators, and external partners.
- Prepare concise scientific updates, program/project/study summaries, decision memos, and recommendations for project teams and leadership, with emphasis on data-driven early discovery choices.
- Mentor junior scientists and research associates while remaining directly engaged in experimental strategy, data review, and problem solving.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Molecular or Cell Biology, or a related science with 4 years industry experience; or Masters with 6 years industry experience; or BSci with 10 years industry experience.
- Must have at least 2 years working in small biotech to be considered, previous remote work is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing pharmacology and early proof of concept studies to support support drug discovery, candidate selection, IND-enabling studies, regulatory submissions, and clinical development.
- Experience authoring, reviewing, and contributing to scientific publications and scientific experimental summary documents.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret complex biology, physiology, and biochemical data into a drug-product specific mechanism of action.
- Experienced leading external CROs, consultants, and sponsored research agreements to successfully deliver nonclinical development objectives in tight timelines.
- Demonstrated success working in cross-functional teams.
- Strong and independent organizational skills, with excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities to effectively communicate scientific concepts to diverse audiences including executive leadership.
- Can travel domestically/internationally up to 20-25%
Work Location and Conditions
- At Amylyx, we proudly support remote work opportunities within the United States. However, due to business considerations related to health insurance coverage and state tax regulations, we are unable to hire employees who reside and/or work in certain states. Currently, we are not considering applicants from Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Michigan and Tennessee.
- You will be expected to travel to our corporate location in Cambridge, MA several times a year and attend other company-related events as necessary and requested.
- You must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at your remote location.
Compensation
The pay range posted below represents our good faith estimate of compensation for this role, based on market data and internal benchmarks. The final offer may vary depending on a candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications, as well as considerations of internal equity.
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Amylyx Pharmaceuticals is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, and lactation), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Amylyx’s management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment. Accommodations are available for candidates who require them in our selection process. If you need an accommodation, please let your Amylyx Talent Acquisition contact know.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
