Senior Research Scientist - Neuroscience

Arvinas is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases through the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies that degrade disease-causing proteins. Arvinas uses its proprietary PROTAC Discovery Engine platform to engineer PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras, or PROTACs, that are designed to harness the body’s own natural protein disposal system to selectively and efficiently degrade and remove disease-causing proteins.

This differentiated approach has enabled Arvinas to build a broad pipeline of investigational therapies across oncology and neurodegenerative diseases, including ARV-102, targeting LRRK2 for neurodegenerative diseases; ARV-806, targeting KRAS G12D for mutated cancers, including pancreatic, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers; ARV-393, targeting BCL6 for relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; ARV-027, targeting the polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor, or polyQ-AR, in skeletal muscle for spinal bulbar muscular atrophy; and vepdegestrant, targeting the estrogen receptor for patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

Building on its leadership in targeted protein degradation, Arvinas achieved a major milestone in May 2026 with the first-ever U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a PROTAC protein degrader therapy. The approval marked a significant advancement for the field and demonstrated the therapeutic potential of targeted protein degradation as a novel treatment modality. This PROTAC has been out-licensed for commercialization and further development.

#TeamArvinas is made up of passionate and curious employees, whose diverse thoughts and perspectives are highly valued. Arvinas employees embrace the freedom to pursue innovation, think creatively, and give back. They are driven by the company’s values and mission – to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases by pioneering therapies created with our revolutionary PROTAC protein degradation platform. We’re really excited about the work we’re doing inside and outside of Arvinas, and think you will be, too. But don’t just take our word for it – learn more about life at Arvinas and what employees have to say.

Arvinas is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about Arvinas, visit www.arvinas.com and connect on LinkedIn and X.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Research Scientist/Senior Research Scientist to lead and execute cellular and tissue-based target engagement studies of small molecule ligands and targeted protein degraders (e.g., PROTACs). This role will play a central part in advancing degrader molecule discovery programs for CNS indications by developing, implementing, and scaling quantitative assays to assess compound binding, ternary complex formation, and functional engagement in physiologically relevant systems, including human-derived tissues and cellular models. This is an opportunity to help establish and scale target engagement capabilities for CNS degrader discovery, directly influencing compound optimization and translational decision-making across neuroscience programs. 

 

This position reports to our Director of Neuroscience and will be located at our headquarters in New Haven, CT. 

 

Principal Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to: 

• Design, develop, optimize, and validate cellular and biochemical assays to measure target engagement and degradation driven by small molecules and targeted protein degraders.  
• Design and execute fit-for-purpose studies to evaluate binary target engagement and ternary complex formation in cellular and tissue-based systems, using technologies such as TR-FRET, NanoBRET, AlphaLISA, luciferase-based assays, biotinylated probes, photoaffinity labeling, and related probe-based or proximity-based approaches. 
• Apply appropriate controls, counter-screens, and orthogonal readouts to evaluate assay specificity, reproducibility, robustness, and potential artifacts. 
• Adapt assays for medium- to high-throughput screening to support compound profiling, degrader optimization, and screening campaigns.  
• Collaborate cross-functionally with medicinal chemistry and platform biology teams to guide optimization of both ligands and degraders based on engagement and degradation data.  
• Analyze, interpret, and integrate complex datasets across multiple assay platforms to guide data-driven project decisions.  
• Organize experimental results to be shared with project teams; maintain clear experimental records using ELN (electronic lab notebook).  
• Seek to be an impactful and valued member of the team who drives data-driven decisions and stays current with emerging technologies in targeted protein degradation and neurodegeneration research. 

 

Qualifications

• Deep hands-on experience (3+ years) developing and executing cellular or tissue-based assays for small-molecule target engagement, degradation, or specificity assessment. 
• Demonstrated expertise with plate-based assay development, including assay design, optimization, troubleshooting, validation, control selection, reproducibility assessment, and artifact identification.  
• Experience using probe-based or proximity-based strategies, such as biotinylated probes, photoaffinity labeling, NanoBRET, TR-FRET, AlphaLISA, luciferase-based assays, or related approaches.  
• Experience adapting assays for robustness, scalability, miniaturization, and multi-well plate formats to support compound profiling or screening workflows.  
• Strong data analysis skills using tools such as Prism, Gene Data, Python, or R.  
• Track record of scientific contributions (publications, patents, or program impact) and cross-functional collaboration skills. 
• Background in neurodegenerative disease biology (e.g., tau, alpha-synuclein, TDP-43, amyloid-beta) strongly desired.  
• Experience working with rodent and human-derived tissues (e.g., post-mortem brain) a plus. 
• Familiarity with biophysical binding assays (SPR, MST, FP) and orthogonal validation strategies a plus.  
• Arvinas will not be providing VISA sponsorship for this position now or in the future. You must have the ability to work without a need for current or future VISA sponsorship.
• The duties of this role are generally conducted in a lab environment. Employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to lift/carry 15/30 pounds unassisted/assisted; work comfortable in a controlled environment with and around biological, infectious and hazardous materials; gown/degown PPE; use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem solving, analysis and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

 

EDUCATION

• BS/MS with 8+ or Ph.D. with 3+ years of pharma/biotech/academic laboratory experience. 
• Background in protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions is required. 

#LI-Remote

Arvinas is proud to offer a competitive package of base and incentive compensation as well as a comprehensive benefits program designed to support the health, wellness and financial security of our employees and their families. Benefits include group medical, vision and dental coverage, group and supplemental life insurance, and much more. To learn more about Arvinas, please visit www.arvinas.com

Arvinas is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.