As the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We invest in the most promising research to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and devices. We work with government, regulatory officials, and insurance companies to address issues that impact the T1D community - breaking through barriers that limit access to care worldwide. We provide resources and guidance that makes it easier to live and thrive with T1D. This is more than a moment - we're empowering a movement for the T1D community. Share your support and help educate and empower individuals facing type 1 diabetes.
Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent and ultimately, cure T1D and its complications. Always, we are guided by a single purpose: As we drive towards curing type 1 diabetes, we help make everyday life better for the people who face it.
This is a hybrid position based out of the NYC office.
Breakthrough T1D is hiring a Scientist within the Research Department to work in all areas of the Breakthrough T1D research portfolio, including Cures and Improving Lives (IL). The scientist role will help us achieve our vision of a world without T1D through the development of therapies across the research portfolio. (For more information on Breakthrough T1D's scientific strategy, visit our website:
https://grantcenter.jdrf.org/research-strategy/
). The new Scientist will be part of a highly interconnected and fast-moving team that is responsible for setting and driving the global research strategy for T1D. In this new position, the Scientist will support the Cures portfolio, including the Prevention/Early detection of T1D, Cell Therapy, and Disease Modifying Therapies areas, as well as the IL portfolio including diabetes devices (e.g. automated insulin delivery [AID] systems, insulin pumps, CGMs), novel insulins and non-insulin therapies for metabolic control, therapies for long-term complications, and mental health.
The Scientist will be responsible for scouting and building new opportunities across industry and academia. In this role the Scientist will have the responsibility to identify and develop new scientific projects with external collaborators, in close coordination internally with Breakthrough T1D's Research team including the scientific leads in Cures and IL, the partnerships team, and the research operations team. The Scientist will serve as a T1D expert and will function as a knowledge resource to academics and industry representatives looking for opportunities to partner with Breakthrough T1D. The scientist will also scout for opportunities to bring new research areas or scientific partnerships to Breakthrough T1D
The Breakthrough T1D research portfolio consists of projects with diverse partners including academia, industry, funding organizations, and others in the United States and abroad. Due diligence and landscape analysis activities are a requisite part of this proactive portfolio build up. This role will focus on identifying and building projects (pre-award), and not on management of an active research portfolio of grants and partnerships (post-award).
In this role, the scientist will also be responsible for representing and communicating Breakthrough T1D research strategy and progress with various stakeholders ranging from internal and external scientists, board members, senior management, Breakthrough T1D supporters and volunteers. Therefore, strong interpersonal and communication skills are key. Breakthrough T1D scientists develop and deliver presentations for live audiences and contribute to written documents about the research we support.
The mission of Breakthrough T1D is highly focused on T1D, so the candidate should have a strong interest in human disease, understand the basic concepts of discovery and translational research, and be passionate about bringing in opportunities from outside the T1D field. Experience with product development and translational research is desired but not required.
This position will report to the VP of Research and will participate in multiple aspects of the Breakthrough T1D research program including providing scientific input to accelerate the progress of therapeutic areas, contributing to future research strategies aligned with Breakthrough T1D's mission, and leveraging opportunities and optimizing relationships within the US and international research communities.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategy and Planning
Pre-award portfolio
-
Development of new research opportunities with internal and external stakeholders (academic scientists, industry partners, etc.).
-
Participation in scouting, securing, and managing research partnerships with companies, other non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, etc.
-
Collaborate with other Breakthrough T1D scientists and non-scientific staff (program administrators, clinical trial managers, business development colleagues, regulatory and health policy experts) to identify gap-filling funding opportunities
Partnering
-
Creating partnership-ready projects through critical review and strategic planning.
-
Liaising with researchers from academia, industry, and other funding agencies to exchange information, develop collaborations, and address challenges of mutual interest where appropriate.
Communication
-
Generate and deliver presentations on Breakthrough T1D Research strategy and progress to lay and expert stakeholders.
-
Communicate research strategy to large audiences or at one-on-one meetings with the purpose of building new opportunities and/or partnerships.
Qualifications
Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in biomedical sciences with at least 3-4 years of postdoctoral experience drug or product development experience preferred.
-
Working expertise in one or more of the following areas required:
-
Design and execution of clinical trials in relation to diabetes and/or autoimmune disease
-
Design and operation of partnered research projects, including complex projects and consortia involving multiple collaborators, and across academia and industry
-
Glucose lowering drugs
-
Long-term complications of T1D
-
Diabetes devices
-
Beta cell biology
-
Immunology
-
Human genetics; genetic factors, assessment of genetic risk, and predictive biomarkers of disease progression
-
Mechanisms of human diseases, especially autoimmune disease
-
Allo and xenogeneic cell/organ transplantation
-
Cell/tissue engineering (gene editing and/or immune engineering)
-
Other areas of interest: implantable scaffolds, vascularization, cell encapsulation
-
Non-profit experience, including grant-making experience
-
Ability to create, operate and innovate within highly matrixed team environments with high level of independence.
-
Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building skills. Ability to interface with stakeholders of highly diverse backgrounds. Must develop, maintain, and cultivate relationships.
-
Demonstrate creativity and ability to think strategically regarding scientific and technical opportunities or roadblocks, and to conceive and build new projects.
-
Ability for and interest in developing expertise in new scientific areas
-
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Target Salary - $90k - $105k
Essential Functions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and infrequently up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Additional information:
Requests for medical, religious, and other exemptions will be considered on an individual basis. Breakthrough T1D will comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
Breakthrough T1D supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Breakthrough T1D is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.