Scientist I, In Vivo Research

BlueRock Therapeutics; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineered cell therapy company, BlueRock Therapeutics, is seeking a Scientist I to join the In Vivo Research group. The role focuses on conducting in vivo studies and histological analyses, contributing to the development of innovative cell-based therapies in a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will have a PhD or equivalent experience in relevant disciplines, showcasing strong organizational and communication skills necessary for successful scientific documentation and collaboration.

Qualifications

• PhD preferred; hands-on experience with in vivo research techniques essential.
• Experience with histology methods like IHC and IF required.
• Strong organizational and communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in executing in vivo studies in animal models, including surgical procedures.
• Serve as the histology expert, performing optimizations for staining.
• Maintain detailed records and contribute to scientific documentation.

Skills

In vivo research techniques

Histological techniques

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Data analysis

Education

PhD in biology, physiology, neuroscience, or related discipline

B.S. with 10+ years or M.S. with 9+ years of experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Imaging software

Statistical software

Job description

Who is BlueRock?

BlueRock Therapeutics, a wholly-owned and independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, is a leading engineered cell therapy company using its unique cell+geneplatform to direct cellular differentiation and genetically engineer cells to create a new generation of cellular medicines that address large patient populations suffering from neurological, cardiovascular, and immunology diseases.

The convergence of cell biology and genetic engineering is creating fundamental new ways to impact disease. Founded in 2016 to capitalize on these technological breakthroughs, we are advancing our novelcell+geneplatform to develop, manufacture, and deliver an entirely new generation of authentic and engineered cell therapies in neurology, ophthalmology, and immunology.

What Are We Doing?

Ourfoundational scienceharnesses the ability to create and then direct the differentiation of universal pluripotent stem cells into authentic, functional cells that can be used as allogeneic cellular therapies to treat a broad array of diseases. We can also further engineer these cells, enabling them to produce enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins for additional therapeutic benefit.

We are passionate about delivering on the promise of cellular and gene therapy, shaping the future of cellular medicine, and delivering new therapies to millions of patients with treatment options.

We are seeking individuals who are collaborative, thrive in a fun and dynamic culture, and are steadfast in the commitment to advance cutting-edge cellular therapies to impact patients’ lives.

Description of Position:

BlueRock is seeking a talented and motivated Scientist I to join the In Vivo Research group. The successful candidate will play a central role with in vivo studies in small and large animal models, necropsy and tissue processing, and performing histological analyses. This role will support research efforts across BlueRock’s platform, with a primary emphasis on programs in neurology and immunology.

This individual will also contribute to scientific documentation, including data collection, reporting, and presentations. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the development of novel cell-based therapies in a highly collaborative and fast-paced research environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the execution of in vivo studies in small and large animal models (neurology and immunology), including independently performing surgical procedures (e.g., craniotomy using neuronavigation), dosing, and behavioral monitoring.
• Perform routine in vivo procedures such as health monitoring, IP/IV/SC dosing, blood collection, necropsy, and tissue harvesting.
• Serve as a histology expert, independently performing and optimizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining on paraffin and cryosections, including whole mount slides.
• Conduct tissue fixation, embedding, sectioning, and staining.
• Prepare cell doses for in vivo administration using aseptic cell culture techniques.
• Support research activities across multiple therapeutic areas, with a primary focus on neurological and immunological disease models.
• Maintain accurate and detailed experimental records and support data analysis, interpretation, and presentation of results. Contribute to the drafting and review of study reports, technical summaries, and scientific presentations. Assist in developing and updating SOPs, experimental protocols, and best practices.
• Participate in inventory and lab operations management, including ordering and maintaining lab and surgical supplies.
• Support training of external collaborators or CRO partners in critical procedures as needed.
• Actively engage with cross-departmental project team members (non-clinical, CMC, histology, etc) to ensure alignment of in vivo studies and histology work with broader therapeutic program objectives, executing studies under direct supervision while independently managing day-to-day experimental tasks and data reporting.
• Lab-based role with daily onsite presence expected.

Minimum Requirements

• PhD preferred in biology, physiology, neuroscience, or a related discipline (or B.S. with 10+ years; M.S. with 9+ years).
• Hands-on experience with in vivo research techniques in small and/or large animals, including surgical models and standard dosing procedures.
• Experience with histological techniques, including IHC and IF on paraffin and cryosections with imaging acquisition and analysis.
• Prior experience working on neurological and/or immunology-focused in vivo models is highly preferred.
• Understanding of good documentation practices in a preclinical research environment; experience drafting SOPs is an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and common laboratory software; experience with imaging and statistical software preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to author and present technical content clearly and effectively.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.