In Vivo Research Associate

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc. is seeking an In Vivo Research Associate to support preclinical studies in obesity and metabolic disease. Based in Cambridge, MA, you will manage the full study workflow from dosing animals to sample analysis and reporting results to project teams.

You will work closely with senior scientists, perform metabolic phenotyping, and contribute to data-informed decisions for drug candidates. Weekend/holiday coverage may be required to support study needs.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in biology, pharmacology, or a related field.
• 1–2 years of hands-on in vivo experience in an academic or industry setting.
• Proficiency with core rodent techniques, including handling, dosing, and blood collection.
• Experience with ELISA and sample processing.
• Working knowledge of IACUC requirements and good documentation practices.
• Proficiency with GraphPad Prism and Excel; Benchling is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform compound administration (SC, IP, IV, PO) and monitor mice and rats.
• Conduct metabolic phenotyping (glucose/insulin tolerance tests, body composition, indirect calorimetry).
• Collect non-terminal blood samples and tissues; conduct necropsy as needed.
• Coordinate study logistics, including dosing schedules and sample plans.
• Support study setup, including animal randomization and blinding where applicable.
• Prepare formulations and dosing solutions for in vivo studies.
• Process and analyze samples using ELISA and related assays; record data.
• Present study results to the Translational Pharmacology group and project teams.

Skills

In vivo techniques

Rodent handling

Blood collection

Data analysis

Education

BS/BA in biology, pharmacology, or a related field

Tools

GraphPad Prism

Excel

Benchling

ELISA

Job description

In Vivo Research Associate

Do you want your in vivo work to help bring better treatments to people living with obesity and metabolic disease? As an In Vivo Research Associate in the Translational Pharmacology group at Zealand Pharma's brand new research site in Cambridge, MA, you will run rodent studies and metabolic phenotyping that help decide which molecules move toward the clinic. If you want your experiments to matter to patients, we'd like to hear from you.

Your new position

As In Vivo Research Associate, you will be a hands-on contributor to preclinical studies that help advance Zealand Pharma's drug candidates. The position covers the full study workflow, from preparing formulations and dosing animals to collecting and analyzing samples and documenting results. You will work closely with senior team members, gain broad exposure to in vivo pharmacology, and see your data feed into project team decisions. Flexibility to support dosing and sample collection on weekends and holidays, as studies require, is part of the role.

• Perform compound administration (SC, IP, IV, PO), body weight and food/water intake measurements, and clinical observations in mice and rats
• Perform metabolic phenotyping, such as glucose and insulin tolerance tests, body composition analysis, and indirect calorimetry
• Collect non-terminal blood samples and tissues on timed schedules for PK and PD studies, and conduct terminal procedures, including necropsy
• Coordinate study logistics, including dosing schedules and sample collection plans
• Support study setup, including animal randomization, baseline measurements, and blinding where applicable
• Prepare compound formulations, dosing solutions, reagents, and buffers for in vivo studies
• Process and analyze samples using standard laboratory techniques such as ELISA, plasma and tissue processing, and biochemical assays
• Record data and maintain sample inventories accurately in the electronic lab notebook, and analyze and summarize study data in GraphPad Prism and Excel with guidance from senior team members
• Present study results to the Translational Pharmacology group and project teams, and contribute to study reports
• Monitor animal health, apply humane endpoints, and report concerns promptly, and conduct all work in compliance with IACUC, animal welfare, and biosafety requirements

Your profile

You are a careful, organized, and dependable team player who takes pride in accurate, well-documented work. You are comfortable handling multiple timelines and adapting when study needs change. You are curious, eager to learn from experienced colleagues, and committed to high standards of animal welfare.

• BS/BA in biology, pharmacology, or a related field, and 1-2 years of hands-on in vivo experience in an academic or industry setting
• Proficiency with core rodent techniques, including handling, dosing (SC, IP, IV, PO), and blood collection
• Experience with standard laboratory techniques (e.g., ELISA, sample processing) and with preparing solutions or compound formulations
• Working knowledge of IACUC requirements and good documentation practices
• Proficiency with GraphPad Prism and Excel; experience with Benchling is a plus
• Experience with metabolic phenotyping or stereotaxic surgery is a plus but not required

Your new team

You will join the Translational Pharmacology group within the Global Biology research organization, based at Zealand's brand new research site in Cambridge, MA and focused on advancing new medicines for obesity and metabolic disease. The team collaborates closely with Chemistry, DMPK/Safety, Translational Medicine, and project teams across the US and Denmark, contributing to a portfolio of programs through robust in vivo data generation and interpretation.

Let's bond and be bold

We have a unique culture, characterized by excellent teamwork and strong engagement across the organization. And we want you to help us strengthen this culture. Making bonds is at the core of everything we do. From discovering and developing the best new peptide drugs for patients, to engaging with our partners or connecting with each other. We bond through curiosity and playfulness as a team, allowing ourselves to challenge common thinking and drive future innovation. Join us and let's bond and be bold.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from all job applicants.

About Zealand Pharma

Zealand Pharma A/S Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health. Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data-driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health.

To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma-invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization.

Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.zealandpharma.com.

Since our founding in 1998, Zealand Pharma has built a core expertise in the discovery, design, and development of therapeutic peptides. This expertise has led to an R&D pipeline of innovative investigational candidates designed to address a broad range of disease areas.

We have four therapeutic focus areas: obesity, rare diseases, chronic inflammation, and type 1 diabetes. In obesity, our peptide capabilities place us in a unique position to address a vast global health challenge and positively impact hundreds of millions of lives. Within rare diseases, we have a long-standing commitment to deliver new treatments to patients living with congenital hyperinsulinism and short bowel syndrome. For chronic inflammatory diseases, we are progressing peptide programs focused on high-profile targets shown to be difficult to address with small molecules and antibodies. For type 1 diabetes, we aspire to change the management of this disease. Our strategy is to pursue global co-development and commercialization partnerships that complement and extend our capabilities across the value chain to deliver new peptide therapies to people who need them.