Research Specialist / Sr Scientist, Assay Sciences, Discovery Pharmacology

Altos Labs•Redwood City, CA

3d•$129,500 - $225,700

About The Position

Altos Labs is seeking a Research Specialist or Sr Scientist for the Assay Sciences, Discovery Pharmacology team. This role is crucial for supporting the development and operation of analytical and bioassays within the Drug Discovery and Development (3DS) division. The position focuses on developing and executing cell-based, biochemical, and complex in vitro bioassays to support drug discovery campaigns. The work contributes to the company's mission of transforming medicine by reversing disease and restoring cell health through cellular rejuvenation and resilience.

Requirements

Research Specialist: Bachelors or Masters degree and 8+ years of industry experience.
Sr Scientist: PhD and 6+ years post-PhD, PLUS 3+ years of industry experience.
Proficiency in developing and running a wide variety of analytical and bioassays.
Familiarity with cutting-edge assay technologies (MSD, HTRF, AlphaLISA, etc.).
Expertise with lab automation equipment (Bravo, Echo, I.DOT, Digital Dispenser, etc.).
Experience with high-content imaging in high-throughput (96- and 384-well) formats.
Ability to work productively and meet deadlines.
Proficiency in documenting experiments in an ELN.
Proven experience managing external CROs.
Excellent communication and organizational skills; ability to multitask.
Subject Matter Expert (SME) or emerging leader in a technical field with sustained performance.
Strong demonstrable expert knowledge of a specialized research area with broad knowledge beyond that specialty.
Ability to apply excellent professional judgment and high proficiency in relevant lab/hub research project skills and techniques.

Responsibilities

Developing, running, and optimizing analytical and bioassays (cell-based, biochemical, complex in vitro).
Transitioning manual assays to automated, high-throughput screening processes.
Ensuring statistical validity (e.g., Z’-factor) and scalability of assays.
Developing new assays from scratch (de novo development).
Documenting experiments in an electronic lab notebook (ELN) for data integrity.
Collaborating with other teams, including Discovery Sciences and the Institute of Computation and Product Development.
Serving as a technical lead for the assay sciences team.
Managing external research partners (CROs) and ensuring data quality.