Associate Scientist

Cytokinetics, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 121,500 - 141,750; Full time

Job summary

Cytokinetics, Inc. seeks an Associate Scientist in Pharmacology to drive pharmacology research in cardiac muscle therapeutics. Responsibilities include designing and executing pharmacology studies, overseeing animal cohorts, and collaborating with teams to advance compounds through preclinical development.

The ideal candidate holds a BS or MS in a relevant field with significant research experience and proficiency in rodent handling and biochemical assays. Competitive pay range is $121,500–$141,750 annually.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of hands-on research experience in relevant fields.
• Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology settings preferred.
• Ability to analyze and communicate complex datasets.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage in-vivo pharmacology studies.
• Oversee animal study cohorts for compliance.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for compound advancement.

Skills

Rodent handling and dosing

Biochemical assays

Molecular biology assays

Data analysis and interpretation

Education

BS in Biology, Physiology, Pharmacology, or related discipline with 8+ years of experience

MS with 6+ years of experience

Tools

Echocardiography

qPCR

Western blotting

Job description

Associate Scientist – Pharmacology

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company that develops small‑molecule therapeutics to treat cardiac muscle dysfunction. We seek a highly motivated scientist to support pharmacology efforts across muscle biology programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and manage in‑vivo pharmacology studies and downstream biochemical and molecular assays to evaluate the efficacy of small‑molecule therapeutics for cardiac indications.
• Lead day‑to‑day oversight of animal study cohorts, including scheduling, dosing, monitoring, and coordination with vivarium staff, ensuring full compliance with IACUC and institutional guidelines.
• Quantify and interpret biomarkers of disease progression and target engagement, integrating functional and molecular endpoints to assess compound performance.
• Collaborate closely with discovery, DMPK, and translational teams to advance compounds through preclinical development, contributing to study design, data interpretation, and go/no‑go decisions.
• Maintain rigorous documentation of experimental methods and results; manage datasets; prepare clear, concise data summaries and presentations for internal project team meetings and program reviews.

Qualifications

• BS in Biology, Physiology, Pharmacology, or a related discipline with 8+ years of hands‑on research experience, or an MS with 6+ years of experience.
• Prior experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in rodent handling and dosing (mouse and rat), including multiple routes of administration.
• Experience with cardiac functional assessments (e.g., echocardiography, tail‑cuff blood pressure measurements, or related techniques) is highly desirable.
• Extensive hands‑on experience in biochemical and molecular biology assays, such as Western blotting, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme‑based assays.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture or primary cardiomyocytes is a plus.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and clearly communicate complex datasets, both in written reports and oral presentations.

Location: Onsite

Pay Range: In the U.S., the hiring pay range for fully qualified candidates is $121,500–$141,750 per year. The base pay offered will reflect internal equity and may vary by geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Cytokinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.