Research Specialist / Scientist, Assay Development

Altos Labs • San Francisco, CA

6d

About The Position

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 be responsible for working with researchers within IVTS to develop and execute assays to characterize biomarkers and evaluate therapeutic targets. The ideal candidate brings strong conceptual and technical grounding in assay design, lead screening, and pharmacological characterization. This includes proven competency in tissue processing, assay development, optimization, dilution testing, control validation, protocol validation, managing timelines, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to achieve milestones and deliverables. We expect you to have a strong commitment to a team-based approach, with an emphasis on collaborative success and open communication. The ideal candidate should see themselves as an integral part of a larger team, actively contributing to a supportive and inclusive environment, sharing knowledge, and working together to overcome challenges and achieve collective goals.

Requirements

• Bachelors or Masters degree and 8+ years of industry experience (for Research Specialist).
• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or related field, with at least 4 years relevant industry experience (for Scientist).
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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).

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.

Benefits

• The salary range for 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level