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

Raven•Boston, MA

5d•$100,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Raven StealthCo is a well-funded, stealth-mode biotechnology company focused on next-generation oligo-based modalities targeting tissues beyond the liver, muscle, and kidney. We are building a platform to deliver oligos with high precision to previously untargeted cells, while focused on “undruggable” genes, alone or in combination with previously validated targets. Many of our targets carry "pipeline-in-a-drug" potential: a single gene or protein with meaningful biological effects across multiple disease areas. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company was incubated in RA Capital’s venture group (Raven) and is led by an experienced CEO. After a robust incubation and vetting process, Raven StealthCo was launched and funded by RA Capital. The company’s therapeutic areas of interest lie outside commonly targeted cells and tissues, and represent multi-billion-dollar markets that are continuing to grow as the population ages. Our initial focus is creating transformational therapies to treat diseases, but given the platform potential, we have longer-term ambitions to address healthy aging. These targets are backed by strong biological and genetic evidence but have historically resisted small molecule and biologic approaches. Raven StealthCo is moving quickly to address multiple disease indications at scale and with significant market potential. We are in the discovery stage and will invest heavily in our emerging platform for oligonucleotide delivery. Our disease focus offers strong translatability from animal models to humans, which provides a potentially rapid and efficient path to the clinic. Given our recent funding and commitment to building a first-in-class platform, we are recruiting Associate Scientist In Vitro Pharmacology and Assay Development to help build and run the in vitro pharmacology engine (target ID and pathway validation, oligonucleotide profiling, and mechanism-of-action work) and to execute the ex vivo analyses that turn our externalized in vivo studies into interpretable results. The Associate Scientist reports to the Director of Biology and Pharmacology and works closely with delivery, conjugation chemistry, and analytical colleagues. This lab-based role spans two capabilities the company cannot advance without: a rigorous in vitro pharmacology engine (physiologically relevant primary and stem-cell-derived models, oligonucleotide screening, mechanism-of-action work), and hands-on support of our externalized in vivo pharmacology, executing the ex vivo analyses on samples returning from CRO-run studies in partnership with the in vivo pharmacology lead. The two are connected by deep molecular biology, biochemistry, and -omics fluency, and as programs move toward development, translational biomarker work grows more central. As a founding member of the scientific team, this person helps build the lab and define how our core assays run. First-year priorities are clear: stand up cell culture, bring the CRO-run cell-based screening in-house, and establish the tissue-processing and ex vivo readouts our programs depend on.

Requirements

BS with 8+ years or MS with 6+ years of relevant experience, preferably in biotech settings. Title will be commensurate with depth of qualifications and experience
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); experience with differentiation or stem-cell-derived systems strongly preferred
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.
Degree in a relevant discipline such as pharmacology, physiology, or cell and molecular biology.

Nice To Haves

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)
A track record of establishing a method, assay, or capability that did not previously exist in a lab, including the documentation and training that made it reliable for others

Responsibilities

Stand up the company’s cell culture from the ground up: 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
With analytical chemistry, who lead bioanalytical method development for oligonucleotide and conjugate quantitation, deliver the tissue-exposure and biodistribution data anchoring PK/PD interpretation
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