Associate Scientist, Preclinical Pharmacology

Planet Pharma; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma in Lexington, MA, seeks an Associate Scientist for our Preclinical Pharmacology team. This hands-on role supports in vivo and in vitro studies across immunology, inflammation, metabolic disease, and fibrosis.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of mouse work, dosing, sample collection, and disease-model execution, plus experience with ELISA, MSD, and qPCR. You will work independently within a multidisciplinary team to support client studies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacology, Biology, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Execute and support in vivo efficacy studies using non-tumor disease models (immunology, inflammation, metabolic disease, fibrosis, autoimmune).
• Perform routine animal procedures including PO, IP, SC, IV dosing, blood collection, necropsy, tissue collection.
• Establish and execute mouse disease models to support preclinical programs.
• Evaluate therapeutic efficacy using clinical, biochemical, histological, and molecular endpoints.
• Support study planning, dose formulation, dosing schedules, and sample collection strategies.
• Conduct PK/PD studies including sample collection and processing.
• Maintain accurate study records, raw data, and sample inventories.
• Communicate unexpected findings or deviations to the Study Director.
• Perform cell-based assays to support screening and mechanism-of-action studies.
• Culture and maintain mammalian cell lines and primary cells as needed.
• Conduct ELISA, MSD, qPCR, cytokine assays, and other biomarker analyses.
• Process and analyze biological samples from in vivo studies.
• Support assay development and troubleshooting of new methods.
• Assist data interpretation and preparation of study reports.
• Collaborate with Study Directors and scientists to execute client studies efficiently.
• Manage multiple studies and priorities while meeting timelines.
• Follow SOPs and safety requirements; contribute to method improvements.

Skills

Mouse studies

In vivo procedures

Animal handling

Dosing

Necropsy

Cell culture

ELISA

MSD

qPCR

PK/PD

Metabolic models

Fibrosis models

CAR-T studies

Data management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacology, Biology, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field

Job description

This role is well suited for someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced CRO environment where multiple studies and client projects may be conducted simultaneously.

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Scientist to join our Preclinical Pharmacology team. This is a hands-on laboratory role supporting both in vivo and in vitro pharmacology studies, with a primary focus on immunology, inflammation, metabolic disease, fibrosis, and other non-tumor therapeutic areas.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with mouse studies and preclinical pharmacology, including animal dosing, sample collection, disease model execution, and therapeutic efficacy evaluation. This individual will also support cell-based assays and analytical methods such as ELISA, MSD, and qPCR.

Responsibilities

• Execute and support in vivo efficacy studies using non-tumor disease models, including immunology, inflammation, metabolic disease, fibrosis, and autoimmune disease models.
• Perform routine animal procedures, including handling, health monitoring, PO, IP, SC, and IV dosing, blood collection, necropsy, and tissue collection.
• Establish, maintain, and execute mouse disease models to support preclinical drug development programs.
• Evaluate therapeutic efficacy using appropriate clinical, biochemical, histological, and molecular endpoints.
• Support study planning, dose formulation, dosing schedules, and biological sample collection strategies.
• Conduct and support pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies, including biological sample collection and processing.
• Maintain accurate study records, raw data, sample inventories, and experimental documentation.
• Identify and communicate unexpected findings, study deviations, or technical issues to the Study Director.
• Perform cell-based assays to support drug screening, efficacy evaluation, and mechanism-of-action studies.
• Culture and maintain mammalian cell lines and primary cells as needed.
• Conduct laboratory assays including ELISA, MSD, qPCR, cytokine assays, inflammatory biomarker assays, and other biochemical or cellular methods.
• Process and analyze biological samples collected from in vivo studies.
• Support assay development, optimization, troubleshooting, and implementation of new methods.
• Assist with data analysis, interpretation, and preparation of study reports.
• Work closely with Study Directors, scientists, and other team members to execute client studies accurately and efficiently.
• Manage multiple studies and experimental priorities while meeting project timelines.
• Follow established SOPs, study protocols, animal welfare requirements, and laboratory safety procedures.
• Contribute to troubleshooting and continuous improvement of experimental methods and study workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacology, Biology, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.

Required Skills

• 3+ years of hands-on experience with mouse studies and in vivo experimental procedures.
• Experience with animal handling, dosing, blood collection, tissue collection, and necropsy.
• Experience establishing or executing mouse disease models strongly preferred.
• Experience with cell culture and in vitro laboratory techniques.
• Working knowledge of ELISA, MSD, qPCR, or similar molecular and biochemical assays.
• Experience with PK/PD studies and biological sample processing preferred.
• Experience with metabolic disease models, including obesity, diabetes, NASH/MASH, or related models, is highly desirable.
• Experience with fibrosis models involving the liver, lung, kidney, or other organs is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting therapeutic efficacy studies for cell therapies, including CAR-T therapies, is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately collect, organize, and document experimental data.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Hands-on, adaptable, and comfortable working on multiple projects in a fast-paced CRO environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience establishing or executing mouse disease models strongly preferred.
• Experience with PK/PD studies and biological sample processing preferred.
• Experience with metabolic disease models, including obesity, diabetes, NASH/MASH, or related models, is highly desirable.
• Experience with fibrosis models involving the liver, lung, kidney, or other organs is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting therapeutic efficacy studies for cell therapies, including CAR-T therapies, is a plus.