Associate Scientist - Preclinical Pharmacology - In Vivo & In Vitro

MEDICILON USA CORP; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MEDICILON USA CORP in Lexington, MA is seeking an Associate Scientist to join our Preclinical Pharmacology team. The role supports in vivo and in vitro pharmacology studies with focus on immunology, inflammation, metabolic disease, fibrosis, and non-tumor areas.

The ideal candidate will perform mouse studies, disease model execution, and efficacy evaluation, while supporting cell-based assays and analytical methods like ELISA, MSD, and qPCR in a fast-paced CRO setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a life sciences field.
• 3+ years of hands-on mouse studies and in vivo procedures.
• Experience with animal handling, dosing, blood collection, tissue collection, and necropsy.
• Experience with cell culture and in vitro laboratory techniques; ELISA/MSD/qPCR experience.

Responsibilities

• Execute in vivo efficacy studies using non-tumor disease models (immunology, inflammation, metabolic disease, fibrosis).
• Perform routine animal procedures including dosing, blood collection, necropsy, and tissue collection.
• Establish and maintain mouse disease models to support preclinical programs.
• Evaluate therapeutic efficacy using clinical, biochemical, histological, and molecular endpoints.
• Support PK/PD studies and biological sample processing.
• Maintain accurate study records and communicate issues to the study director.

Skills

in vivo pharmacology

mouse studies

animal handling

dosing

cell-based assays

ELISA

qPCR

PK/PD

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Pharmacology/Biology/Biochemistry/Toxicology/Immunology/Biomedical Sciences

Tools

ELISA

MSD

qPCR

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Scientist to join our Preclinical Pharmacology team in Lexington, MA. 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.

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.

Key Responsibilities

In Vivo Pharmacology

• 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/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.

Cell-Based & In Vitro Assays

• 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.

Study Execution & Collaboration

• 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.
• 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 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.