Program Director, Kinase Biology

Lindonlight is dedicated to the discovery and development of transformative therapies for pediatric brain tumors. The organization operates as an integrated ecosystem comprised of the Lindonlight Foundation, Lindonlight Collective, and Lindonlight Bio. Within this ecosystem, Lindonlight Bio is focused on developing promising therapeutics for pediatric glioma, with antibody-drug conjugates identified as a critical and under-exploited opportunity.

Position Summary

Lindonlight is seeking a Program Director, Kinase Biology to lead scientific strategies and execution for kinase-focused discovery and translational programs in pediatric brain tumors. This individual will bring deep expertise in kinase signaling, target biology, and pathway dependencies, with the ability to translate biological insight into actionable drug discovery and preclinical development strategies. The Program Director will help guide programs from target validation through preclinical proof of concept and contribute to portfolio prioritization across kinase-driven oncology programs.

Responsibilities and Opportunities

• Lead scientific strategy for kinase-driven oncology programs.
• Evaluate kinase signaling dependencies, pathway interactions, and resistance mechanisms.
• Drive target assessment, indication prioritization, and therapeutic hypothesis development.
• Integrate multi-omics and functional datasets to inform program strategy.
• Identify biomarker strategies and patient selection hypotheses to support future clinical development.
• Contribute to the development of combination strategies and pathway-based therapeutic approaches.

Discovery & Translational Research

• Design and guide experiments supporting target validation and mechanism-of-action studies, including:
• Characterize protein turnover, stability, and half-life using biochemical and cellular approaches.
• Investigate protein degradation pathways and regulatory mechanisms that influence target abundance.
• Assess monomeric and dimeric states (homodimers and heterodimers) and evaluate their functional implications.
• Study isoform-specific biology, including differential expression, subcellular localization, and functional roles.
• Investigate kinase-driven signaling pathways, including identification of kinase targets, phosphorylation events, and downstream cellular effects.
• Design, optimize, and implement high-throughput, cell-based assays to monitor kinase signaling outputs and associated phenotypic changes.

Cross-Functional Program Leadership

• Work closely with medicinal chemistry, bioinformatics, translational biology, and development teams to advance programs.
• Present scientific recommendations and program updates to senior leadership.
• Support portfolio strategy and long-range R&D planning.

Qualifications

• PhD, PharmD, or MD/PhD in cancer biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, or related field.
• Deep expertise in kinase biology and signaling pathways relevant to oncology.
• Experience leading or supporting programs from target validation or IND.
• Ability to interpret complex biological datasets and translate findings into development strategy.
• Strong communication skills and ability to operate in a highly collaborative biotech environment.

Additional Information

• Reports to: Chief Scientific Officer
• Job Type: Full-time
• Schedule: Monday to Friday; Weekends as needed (On-Site)
• Work Hours: Requires flexibility to accommodate early-morning and evening meetings with international collaborators across time zones, including Europe and Asia.
• Location: Cambridge, MA (Kendall Square)
• Travel: Approximately 10–15% | Includes monthly travel to Houston and occasional travel for scientific meetings or partnership engagements.
• 401(k) with company match
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off

Lindonlight is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.

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