Research Specialist / Scientist, Assay Development

About the Role

An exciting opportunity is available for a Research Specialist / Scientist to join the In Vivo Translational Sciences (IVTS) team within the Institute of Medicine (IOM) at Altos Labs. We are seeking a highly skilled, self-motivated, and talented individual to generate decisional data by designing and executing ex vivo assays. The ideal candidate will bring extensive knowledge of a wide variety of in vitro and ex vivo assay methodologies and a track record of successful scientific impact in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, with demonstrated experience completing high-throughput, time-sensitive assays while maintaining data quality and reproducibility.

You will work with researchers within IVTS to develop and execute assays to characterize biomarkers and evaluate therapeutic targets. The role requires strong conceptual and technical grounding in assay design, lead screening, and pharmacological characterization, including tissue processing, assay development, optimization, dilution testing, control validation, protocol validation, managing timelines, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to achieve milestones and deliverables.

This role is expected to require ~80% of time dedicated to benchtop science and emphasizes a team-based approach with collaborative success and open communication.

Responsibilities

• Execute ex vivo assays on diverse tissues collected from in vivo studies, perform analyses, and report results.
• Support ex vivo biological analysis (e.g., biomarker discovery) in collaboration with other IVTS scientists, Altos Hubs, and cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and platforms to enhance the efficiency and quality of studies.
• Maintain detailed documentation of all studies in an electronic lab notebook to ensure data integrity and traceability.
• Collaborate effectively with the in vivo operation teams to enable execution of high-quality in vivo studies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Discovery Sciences, in vitro Pharmacology, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, etc., to support the development and progression of therapeutic programs.
• Contribute to a team culture that promotes continuous improvement, ownership, professional growth, and inclusion.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Research Specialist: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and 8+ years of industry experience.
• Scientist: PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field, with at least 4 years of relevant industry experience.
• Extensive experience designing and executing biochemical and biophysical assays, including:
  • Enzymatic assays, ELISAs, MSD, AlphaLISA, Western Blots, qPCR, and ddPCR.
  • Assays for target engagement studies across diverse tissue and biofluid matrices.
• Extensive experience with tissue processing methods, including extraction, quantification, and QC of nucleic acids and proteins.
• Demonstrated ability to design and troubleshoot assays to support diverse therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, gene therapies).
• Strong record of scientific productivity and the ability to independently design rigorous, reproducible, and generalizable experiments.
• Proficient in documenting and communicating results clearly (e.g., ELN, slide decks, team presentations).
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong conceptual grounding in pharmacological characterization.
• Experience with high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms and assay miniaturization.
• Experience with microscopy and high-content imaging.
• Experience with flow cytometry.
• Experience with immunoprecipitation assays.
• Experience working on cellular or animal models relevant to age-related diseases (e.g., metabolic, neurodegenerative, immune-related, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal).

Pay

Redwood City, CA:

• Research Specialist: $129,500 - $166,000
• Scientist I, Pharmacology: $131,400 - $168,400
• Scientist II, Pharmacology: $148,400 - $190,300

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.