Scientist – In Vitro & In Vivo Biology
About the Company:
Institutionally backed biotech focused on neuroscience and the development of novel therapeutics.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist to join our research team and contribute to the advancement of therapeutic discovery programs, with an emphasis on neuroscience and neurological disease. This is a hands-on position for an early-career scientist with a strong experimental background spanning in vitro and in vivo biology. The Scientist will design and execute experiments to investigate disease-relevant biology, therapeutic mechanisms, and pharmacological activity. As a member of a small, multidisciplinary team, this individual will have broad scientific exposure and the opportunity to develop increasing ownership of research programs and contribute to scientific strategy. This position is particularly well suited for candidates who enjoys experimental work and is interestedin developing into an independent drug discovery scientist.
Key Responsibilities:- Design, execute, analyze, and troubleshoot in vitro and in vivo studies supporting discovery andpreclinical research programs.
- Develop and optimize cellular assays and disease-relevant experimental models to characterizebiological mechanisms and therapeutic activity.
- Conduct in vivo pharmacology and proof-of-concept studies, including dosing, sample collection, tissue harvesting, and downstream analysis.
- Perform quantitative molecular, cellular, and biochemical analyses of cells, tissues, and other biological samples.
- Integrate in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo findings to characterize biological activity and inform program decisions.
- Apply rigorous experimental design, appropriate controls, and quantitative analysis to generate high-quality, reproducible data.
- Troubleshoot experimental methods and recommend follow-up studies based on emerging results.
- Maintain accurate experimental records and clearly communicate findings to the broader research team.
- Collaborate across disciplines and contribute to research activities as program needs evolve.
- Develop new assays, models, and research capabilities.
- Support studies conducted with CROs and external collaborators.
- With increasing experience, contribute to experimental strategy, program planning, and scientificdecision-making.3210 Merryfield San Diego, CA 9212 Diaxis Therapeutics, Qualifications
- PhD in biology, pharmacology, neuroscience, molecular or cellular biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline with 0+ years of industry experience. Or a Bachelor’s or Masters in biology, pharmacology, neuroscience, molecular or cellular biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline with 5+ years of industry experience ina related field.
- Strong hands-on experimental background in cellular and molecular biology, pharmacology, or arelated field.
- Experience with both in vitro experimental systems and in vivo animal studies.
- Experience with mammalian cell culture, primary cells, or other physiologically relevant cellular systems.
- Experience conducting in vivo studies, including animal handling, dosing, sample collection, tissue harvesting, and/or tissue processing.
- Strong understanding of experimental design, controls, quantitative analysis, and biological interpretation.
- Ability to independently execute and troubleshoot experiments.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and scientific communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced research environment.
Preferred Qualifications:- Background in neuroscience, neurobiology, neuropharmacology, or neurological disease biologyis preferred but not required.
- Experience with primary neurons, iPSC-derived cells, brain tissue, or other disease-relevant cellular models.
- Experience with in vivo models of neurological disease or CNS pharmacology.
- Experience supporting therapeutic discovery or translational research programs.
- Experience with pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, biomarkers, or mechanism-of-action studies.
- Experience with quantitative protein assays, including MSD (Meso Scale Discovery), AlphaLISA, ELISA, and/or Western blotting.
- Experience with quantitative RNA assays, including QuantiGene, dPCR and/or qPCR.
- Experience with ex vivo analysis of biological samples or tissues.
- Familiarity with CNS drug delivery, exposure, or PK/PD relationships.
- Biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience is beneficial but not required.
Attributes for Success
The successful candidate will be scientifically curious, technically strong, and motivated to remain closely engaged in experimental research. The individual should be comfortable learning new areas of biology, working across in vitro and in vivo systems, and adapting experimental approaches as new data emerge.
We value individuals who take ownership of their work, communicate results clearly, and balance scientific rigor with the practical needs of advancing research programs. This role provides an opportunity to develop increasing independence in experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific decision-making while gaining broad experience in drug discovery within an early-stage biotechnology company.
