Senior Research Associate, In Vivo Pharmacology

United Therapeutics • Cambridge, MA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR) is a public benefit corporation focused on developing novel pharmaceutical therapies and technologies for rare, deadly diseases and to expand the availability of transplantable organs. Founded in 1996, the company has six FDA-approved therapies for conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), and neuroblastoma. Their pipeline includes treatments for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Additionally, United Therapeutics is working on creating manufactured organs to address the shortage of available transplants. Thymmune Therapeutics, a subsidiary, is developing a machine learning-driven thymic cell engineering platform to restore immune function, using iPSC-thymic cell manufacturing to create off-the-shelf cells at scale for treating immunodeficiencies, transplant-related, and autoimmune disorders.

As a Senior Research Associate, In Vivo Pharmacology, you will play a key role in advancing Thymmune's thymic rejuvenation programs. This involves conducting in vivo studies and performing comprehensive analytical assessments to evaluate the efficacy and safety of iPSC-derived thymic cell therapies. You will establish and execute animal models for proof-of-concept and pharmacology studies, generating high-quality preclinical data for nonclinical development. The role requires hands-on research, innovative animal studies, and a focus on cutting-edge immunology, contributing to turning scientific questions into therapeutic breakthroughs.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience conducting in vivo pharmacology studies, including study execution, animal handling, dosing, sample collection, and tissue processing with a Bachelor's Degree in immunology, regenerative medicine, or a related life sciences discipline or 3+ years of experience conducting in vivo pharmacology studies, including study execution, animal handling, dosing, sample collection, and tissue processing with a Master's Degree n immunology, regenerative medicine, or a related life sciences discipline
• Demonstrated proficiency in rodent handling, tissue collection/dissection, and multiple routes of administration, including intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP), and subcutaneous (SC) injections., and tissue dissection is required
• Strong experience with Flow Cytometry, qPCR, ELISA/MSD techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, apply appropriate statistical methods, and independently troubleshoot experimental variability.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to structure tasks, set priorities, and work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

Nice To Haves

• 1+ year of experience in the biotech and/or biopharma industry
• Hands-on experience with the isolation, processing, and culture of primary human cells or tissues is preferred.
• Fundamental knowledge of thymus biology and immunology or demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire expertise in these areas, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform standard dosing procedures (SC, IM, IV, IP) for cell administration, blood sampling techniques (submandibular bleeds and tail nick) for immune cell profiling, as well as tissue collection (e.g., lymph tissue, muscle, and major organs) via necropsy
• Perform cell isolation from primary tissues and conduct downstream biological assays to evaluate cell quality and function, including Flow Cytometry (FACS), RT-qPCR/ ddPCR, MSD/ELISA, Immunofluorescence imaging
• Maintain high standards of data integrity and ensure accurate, reproducible, and well-documented data to support reliable analysis and decision-making.
• Analyze complex datasets using statistical software (e.g., GraphPad Prism) and effectively present findings to the scientific team.
• Document in vitro and in vivo studies using electronic notebook (e.g., Benchling) to maintain detailed records of study design, experimental procedure, analytical data, and results
• Lead study planning and organization, write study reports and participate in the strategic planning of long-term studies
• Perform specialized tissue processing and in vivo imaging analysis, including immunohistochemistry (IHC) and IVIS-based reporter gene imaging
• Develop and execute immunological assays (e.g., cell activation, cytotoxicity, mixed lymphocyte reaction) to assess the allo-reactivity and tolerance of immune cells
• Conduct and/or assist with small rodent surgical procedures (e.g., tissue transplantation, cell implantation), experience in surgical procedures is a key asset
• Maintain cell culture of cell line or primary immune cells using aseptic techniques
• Ensure strict adherence to all Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for animal welfare
• Collaborate cross-functionally to support timely execution of in vivo studies to characterize and select candidate cell therapy product
• All other duties as required

Benefits

• medical / dental / vision / prescription coverage
• employee wellness resources
• savings plans (401k and ESPP)
• paid time off & paid parental leave benefits
• disability benefits

What This Job Offers

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