Raven StealthCo - Associate Scientist, In Vitro Pharmacology and Assay Development

Raven•Boston, MA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This lab-based role is critical for building and running the in vitro pharmacology engine, which includes target identification and pathway validation, oligonucleotide profiling, and mechanism-of-action studies. The Associate Scientist will also support externalized in vivo pharmacology by executing ex vivo analyses on samples from CRO-run studies. The role requires strong molecular biology, biochemistry, and -omics fluency, with a growing emphasis on translational biomarker work as programs advance. As a founding member of the scientific team, this individual will help establish the lab and define core assay methodologies. Key first-year priorities include setting up cell culture, bringing cell-based screening in-house, and establishing tissue processing and ex vivo readouts.

Requirements

BS with 8+ years or MS with 6+ years of relevant experience, preferably in biotech settings.
Hands-on aseptic technique and mammalian cell culture (immortalized and primary lines) and end-to-end cell-based assay development (conception, optimization, troubleshooting, routine execution).
Strong molecular biology and biochemistry: RNA and protein isolation from cells and tissues and quantitative gene- and protein-expression analysis (RT-qPCR, ddPCR, MSD/ELISA, Protein Simple, flow cytometry).
Experience with oligonucleotide modalities and a range of delivery systems (transfection, free uptake, LNP, and/or conjugate), and supporting in vivo pharmacology through target-engagement, pharmacodynamic, and translational biomarkers.
Fluency accessing and synthesizing -omics datasets (RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics), with enough grounding in the methods to scrutinize and interpret the data.
Initiative and independent scientific thinking: identifying a problem, proposing an approach, and carrying it through with limited supervision.
Process- and detail-oriented, with the creativity to build novel assays while keeping data decision-grade, and an effective communicator who operates independently in the lab.
Collaborative, collegial, intellectually curious, driven, trustworthy, and humble, with sound judgement and strong technical decision-making.
Thoughtful, highly organized, and energized by a fast-paced start-up.
Degree in a relevant discipline such as pharmacology, physiology, or cell and molecular biology.

Nice To Haves

Experience with differentiation or stem-cell-derived systems strongly preferred.
Some familiarity with histology and in situ tissue analysis (sectioning, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, microscopy, quantitative image analysis).
Some coding for larger-dataset analysis (R or Python) are pluses.

Responsibilities

Stand up the company’s cell culture from the ground up, including primary and stem-cell-derived cells, directed differentiation, and readouts of maturation and functional states.
Design, develop, and run reproducible in vitro assays for oligonucleotides and conjugates, quantifying target engagement and PD effect across delivery formats (RT-qPCR, digital PCR, branched-DNA, immunoassays) and characterizing dose–response for conjugate optimization.
Build an assay toolkit for deeper hit profiling, including uptake, internalization, and trafficking assays for conjugate-mediated delivery.
Establish tissue-processing techniques and the ex vivo PD and efficacy analyses supporting in vivo studies (including RNA and protein extraction from difficult tissues); run the readouts on returning CRO samples and contribute to the ex vivo analytical plan up front.
In line with the team’s biomarker strategy, develop and implement assays for translational biomarkers that track PD effect, target engagement, and early efficacy into development.
Bring in new methods, technologies, and vendors where existing approaches fall short, and operationalize methods once established: robust, documented, transferable assays with defined controls, acceptance criteria, and performance tracking.
Help build the lab (procurement, installation, equipment qualification), train future team members, and build and maintain the templates and records the organization runs on (data management, inventory, SOPs, assay protocols, and electronic lab notebook).
Work hand-in-hand with the Director, the in vivo pharmacology lead, delivery scientists, and chemists to keep in vitro and ex vivo readouts timely and well-controlled, and contribute ideas and interpretation to broader scientific discussion.