Senior Scientist / Engineer: Transplantation, Biopreservation & Bioengineering

Intertwine Associates•Mount Pleasant, SC

56d•$90,000 - $220,000•Remote

About The Position

This role involves working as a Senior Scientist / Engineer in a dynamic, fast-paced environment to support the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The position focuses on a portfolio encompassing transplantation, organ and tissue preservation, engineered tissues, organoids, microphysiological systems (MPS), and advanced therapeutic manufacturing. The individual will collaborate with the ARPA-H Program Manager and team to drive research initiatives, support the development and management of R&D programs, and accelerate health outcomes. Key responsibilities include providing direct technical support to R&D performers, Government Program Managers, and stakeholders. The role requires deep technical expertise in transplantation and/or regenerative medicine, applied to emerging technologies within the context of clinical workflow, manufacturability, regulatory constraints, and real-world implementation. Specific areas of support include tissue and organoid manufacturing, MPS and organ-on-chip platforms, tissue and organ preservation (hypothermic, normothermic, supercooling, cryopreservation, vitrification), ex vivo organ perfusion and diagnostics, and other translational technologies for organ and tissue recovery, preservation, and transplantation. The position also involves evaluating technologies against clinical and operational realities, conducting landscape analyses and technical diligence, assessing commercialization pathways, and providing insights into the broader transplant ecosystem. Responsibilities include reviewing technical proposals, assessing risks, and drafting recommendations. The role requires strong client engagement, interfacing directly with the Government Program Manager, Mission Office leadership, performer teams, and external stakeholders. This is a remote position with approximately 10-20% CONUS travel.

Requirements

Advanced degree in a relevant field: PhD in physiology, systems biology, bioengineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, or a related discipline; or MD with significant experience in transplantation, organ preservation, transplant surgery, transplant medicine, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in one or more of the following: organ preservation, ex vivo organ perfusion and diagnostics, transplant biology, regenerative medicine, translational bioengineering.
Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate technical data, experimental plans, and development pathways.
Experience synthesizing complex scientific information into concise written and visual products for decision support.
Experience supporting complex R&D efforts involving academic, clinical, and/or industrial stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to translate between basic science, engineering development, and clinical or transplant operational realities.
Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, both internally and externally with members of the public.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, and to prioritize work.
Highly detail-oriented, organized, and proactive.
Strong work ethic and a passion for healthcare and scientific discovery.
U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency is required per contract.
Active federal government Public Trust, or the ability to obtain one.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in transplantation, including clinical, translational, or operational work related to donor organ recovery, preservation, allocation, or implantation.
Experience working in or with: HRSA, OPTN/UNOS, organ procurement organizations (OPOs), transplant centers, tissue banks or organ recovery networks or programs involving cross-sector coordination.
Familiarity with the practical and policy dimensions of the U.S. transplant ecosystem.
Experience with organ perfusion technologies for assessment, preservation, repair, or treatment of donor organs.
Experience with biopreservation approaches, including hypothermic and normothermic preservation, supercooling, cryopreservation, vitrification, and cold-chain logistics.
Experience with engineered tissues, organoids, organ-on-chip or microphysiological systems (MPS), biofabrication, or advanced therapeutic manufacturing.
Experience with translational and commercialization challenges, including manufacturability, quality systems, reimbursement context, regulatory considerations, and clinical adoption barriers.
At least one year of experience supporting DARPA or related federal “ARPA” agencies (IARPA, ARPA-E, HSARPA, ARPA-H).
Experience supporting a federal or commercial health agency or organization.
Knowledge of the biomedical research landscape.
Two or more years of experience in federal healthcare and/or scientific consulting.

Responsibilities

Support the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) across a portfolio spanning transplantation, organ and tissue preservation, engineered tissues, organoids and microphysiological systems (MPS), and advanced therapeutic manufacturing.
Collaborate with the ARPA-H Program Manager and team to effectuate bold research initiatives.
Support the development, funding, and management of new and existing R&D programs.
Help the agency accelerate better health outcomes for everyone.
Provide direct technical support to R&D performer teams, Government Program Managers, and stakeholders across the health innovation ecosystem.
Apply deep technical expertise in transplantation and/or regenerative medicine to emerging technologies in the context of clinical workflow, manufacturability, regulatory constraints, and real-world implementation.
Provide technical and strategic support across programs related to tissue and organoid manufacturing, microphysiological systems and organ-on-chip platforms, tissue and organ preservation and biopreservation (including hypothermic and normothermic preservation, supercooling, cryopreservation, and vitrification), ex vivo organ perfusion and diagnostics, and other translational technologies relevant to organ and tissue recovery, preservation, and transplantation.
Evaluate technologies in the context of clinical and operational realities, including donor tissue and organ recovery, preservation logistics and cold-chain constraints, perfusion-enabled assessment and intervention, and transplant-center workflow.
Conduct landscape analyses and technical diligence on emerging capabilities, vendors, performers, and scientific trends.
Advise on the scientific plausibility, translational feasibility, manufacturability, and adoption potential of proposed approaches.
Assess the commercialization pathway alongside the science: scale-up and manufacturability, quality systems and GMP considerations, regulatory strategy, reimbursement context, supply chain, and the clinical adoption barriers that determine whether a technology reaches patients.
Provide insight into how innovations may intersect with the broader transplant ecosystem, including organ procurement organizations, transplant centers, tissue banks, and applicable federal regulators and stakeholders.
Review and assess technical proposals, performer submissions, milestones, deliverables, and program risks.
Provide feedback, organize reviewer comments, and draft recommendations, project summaries, and presentation materials.
Help identify subject-matter experts, potential performers, test and evaluation partners, and transition stakeholders across academia, industry, clinical practice, and government.
Assist in program management functions, including preparing for technical meetings, conducting site visits, consolidating performer progress, identifying schedule risks, and creating briefing materials.
Maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, regulatory, and market developments.
Interface directly and continuously with the Government Program Manager, Mission Office leadership, performer teams, and external stakeholders across the transplant and bioengineering communities.
Represent Intertwine Associates and the client with professionalism, responsiveness, and sound judgment at every touchpoint.