Senior / Principal Scientist, Preclinical and Clinical Research
Nia Therapeutics
Summary
Nia Therapeutics has received FDA breakthrough device designation for its Smart Neurostimulation System — A wireless, 60-channel, AI-enabled neurostimulation platform. We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this system for the treatment of memory loss in patients with acquired brain injury and neurodegenerative disease.
Job description
The Role
Working closely with the CEO, Dr. Michael Kahana, and our data science team, you will develop and execute the clinical plan for our Early Feasibility Study (EFS), complete the clinical protocol for our IDE application, participate in FDA program meetings, and help lay the groundwork for subsequent pivotal trials. In preparation for the EFS, you will manage our ongoing pre-clinical animal safety trials. You will also contribute to grant applications in support of our clinical studies and assemble the team that will carry out our planned clinical trials. This role requires regular presence in the clinic, responsibility over data integrity, and direct involvement in data analysis.
What You'll Do
- Contribute scientifically to study design and the development of memory and cognitive outcome measures, to data analysis, publications and presentations, and to federal grant applications.
- Manage all clinical and preclinical operations, including animal safety studies, protocol development, investigator relations, site coordination, patient recruitment, CRO management, monitoring, and study reporting.
- Build and maintain the EDC systems, data management plans, and trial datasets in compliance with GCP, 21 CFR Part 812, and ISO 14155, with the data science team.
- Support regulatory submissions and FDA interactions.
Preferred Qualifications
We don't expect any candidate to bring all of these — any two would make a strong application:
- Human or NHP intracranial recordings (iEEG, ECoG, sEEG, single/multi-unit)
- Direct electrical brain stimulation in humans
- Conduct of an IDE- or IRB-regulated clinical trial
Location
Based in Philadelphia alongside our data science team, with frequent travel to our Boston office and to study sites. We will also consider a Boston-based candidate who is prepared to spend significant time in Philadelphia.
Level and Compensation
Level (Senior Scientist vs. Principal Scientist) set by experience. Candidates with substantial industry clinical development leadership may be considered at the Associate Director level.
Requirements
- PhD work in human or NHP neuroscience or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience working with human subjects, ideally including patient populations
- Programming and data-analysis skills (e.g., Python) sufficient to work with our data science team
Benefits
- Cash compensation
- Stock options
- Paid time off
- Healthcare and dental benefits
Company overview
Nia Therapeutics is a pioneering medical technology company developing an AI-guided neurostimulation system for the treatment of memory loss. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company emerged from groundbreaking research funded by the Department of Defense through the DARPA Restoring Active Memory (RAM) project. Nia's core technology is a closed-loop brain-computer interface platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to personalize therapy based on each patient's unique brain activity patterns. The company's Smart Neurostimulation System (SNS) includes an implantable neurostimulator, wearable earpiece, and cloud-based software that work together to interpret complex brain activity related to memory function and provide targeted stimulation. Nia's first clinical target is memory loss due to traumatic brain injury, affecting over 27 million Americans, with plans to expand into mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease markets. The company has raised significant funding, including a $22 million seed round, and is developing a Class III medical device targeting FDA Premarket Approval. Nia represents a convergence of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and medical device technology to address one of healthcare's most significant unmet needs.