Senior Research Associate, In Vivo Discovery

Pivotal • San Diego, CA

2d • $90,000 - $120,000 • Onsite

About The Position

We are an innovative, stealth-mode biotech company developing in vivo gene editing therapeutics with a focus on targeted delivery of CRISPR machinery to therapeutically relevant cell types.
The Translational Research team is hiring a Senior Research Associate to lead the cellular and molecular characterization of delivery and editing platforms supporting our preclinical programs. This is a hands-on bench role with significant ownership of experimental design, execution, and data interpretation. The location for this position is onsite, 5 days per week, in our Boston lab.

Requirements

• BS with 6+ years or MS with 4+ years of hands-on research experience in molecular and cell biology in industry or academia.
• Direct experience with CRISPR gene editing, including assay readouts for editing efficiency (amplicon NGS, TIDE/ICE, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated expertise in mammalian cell culture and design, execution, and troubleshooting of cell-based assays.
• Strong working knowledge of core molecular and analytical methods: PCR, RT-qPCR, Sanger and NGS sequencing, SDS-PAGE / Western blot (or Jess capillary electrophoresis), ELISA, and flow cytometry.
• Mammalian cell culture, cell transfection, and sterile techniques.
• Experience designing and executing in vivo rodent studies, including tissue collection and downstream analysis.
• Ability to independently scope, plan, and execute experiments with minimal supervision; track record of contributing to project decisions based on data.
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting data to a scientific audience.
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship required.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs / HSPCs), including isolation, ex vivo expansion, and multilineage differentiation assays (CFU, erythroid, myeloid).
• Experience with LNP-based delivery of nucleic acids, including formulation handling, dose preparation, and in vivo administration.
• Experience with antibody-based or receptor-targeted delivery strategies.
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools for amplicon sequencing analysis (e.g., CRISPResso, CRISPRessoBatch).
• Prior experience supporting IND-enabling or GLP studies.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and qualify molecular assays to measure CRISPR editing outcomes in vitro and in vivo, including amplicon NGS for indel quantification, TIDE/ICE, ddPCR, and orthogonal confirmation methods.
• Lead cell-based pharmacology assays evaluating delivery efficiency, editing efficiency, and on-target activity of LNP- and antibody-based delivery platforms.
• Plan and execute in vivo studies in mice evaluating biodistribution, editing efficiency, and pharmacodynamic activity; analyze tissues for nucleic acid and protein endpoints.
• Extract and purify RNA, DNA, and protein from cultured cells and animal tissues; run downstream analytical workflows (qPCR, RT-qPCR, Sanger and NGS sequencing, ddPCR, Western blot or Jess, ELISA, flow cytometry).
• Maintain primary and immortalized mammalian cell lines using aseptic technique; perform transfection and electroporation of CRISPR reagents.
• Analyze experimental data, interpret results in the context of program goals, and present findings in team meetings and written reports.
• Contribute to study design, protocol development, and SOPs. Mentor junior research associates and support cross-functional collaboration with Delivery, Editing, and Translational teams.
• Maintain rigorous electronic and paper lab records consistent with reproducibility and data integrity standards.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• Fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative work environment.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, a 401k Match of 4%, Paid Time Off and Equity.

What This Job Offers

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