Scientist – Preclinical Team

Capricor Therapeutics•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Capricor Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing cell and exosome-based therapies for rare diseases. The company's lead therapy, Deramiocel (CAP-1002), is in late-stage development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Capricor also utilizes its StealthX™ exosome platform for targeted delivery and vaccinology. The company is seeking a Scientist for its Pre-Clinical team to support therapeutic programs by designing, executing, and optimizing in vivo research and preclinical studies. This role requires significant expertise in in vivo methodologies, technical skills, and the ability to conduct complex operations in a regulated setting.

Requirements

Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline with expertise in nonclinical operations within drug discovery and development.
Hands-on experience with cell biology techniques, including RNA/DNA extraction, PCR, Western blot, ELISA, and interventional assays for small molecules and biologics.

Nice To Haves

Experience across diverse therapeutic modalities (small molecules, biologics, nucleic acid therapeutics, gene therapy).
Familiarity with age-related disease models (inflammation, metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, muscle atrophy, bone/joint deficits).
Experience with metabolic chambers, behavioral assays, and related data analysis.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Principal Scientist and Director to provide preclinical expertise, including animal handling and study design.
Plan, execute, and analyze in vivo and ex vivo studies to support program objectives.
Perform cell-based assays and tissue analyses from in vivo studies; compile and report results.
Conduct survival surgeries and establish rodent models using aseptic techniques.
Develop, characterize, and implement new animal models to enhance pharmacology study effectiveness.
Maintain detailed, audit-ready documentation of all studies to ensure data integrity and traceability.
Optimize and implement best practices for in vivo research, including model selection, dosing strategies, and sample/data collection techniques.
Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and ethical standards for all preclinical activities.
Evaluate and integrate new technologies and platforms to improve study efficiency and quality.
Perform and interpret preclinical imaging studies (e.g., IVIS).
Contribute to a team culture that promotes continuous improvement, ownership, and inclusion.