Part-Time Senior Scientist – Cell Biology

Aphios; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

Aphios Corporation, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, seeks a PhD-level Scientist/Senior Scientist with strong hands-on mammalian cell culture and cell-based assay development experience. This part-time/consulting role targets senior scientists from industry or academia in the Boston area.

You will establish and optimize in vitro assays while supporting GLP-1 and Alzheimer's programs. The position emphasizes experimental design, problem-solving, and data interpretation at the bench, with

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with strong hands-on mammalian cell culture experience.
• Experience developing and conducting cell-based assays.
• Ability to independently establish, optimize, and troubleshoot assays.
• Strong experimental design, quantitative analysis, and scientific documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish recombinant cell cultures and maintain them.
• Develop and optimize an in vitro anti-nausea assay using recombinant stomach-derived cells.
• Design controls and conduct concentration- and dose–response studies.
• Evaluate therapeutic candidates and perform data interpretation and reporting.
• Support GLP-1 and Alzheimer's program assays (PKC/alpha-secretase signaling, cytokines).

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Cell-based assay development

Experimental design

Troubleshooting

Data interpretation

Scientific documentation

Education

PhD in Cell Biology or related field

Tools

ELISA

Western blotting

Fluorescence assays

Luminescence assays

Reporter assays

Job description

Part-Time Senior Scientist – Cell Biology & In Vitro Assays

Aphios Corporation, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is seeking an experienced PhD-level Scientist / Senior Scientist with strong hands‑on expertise in mammalian cell culture and cell-based assay development.

We are particularly interested in experienced biotechnology/pharmaceutical scientists seeking a flexible part‑time or consulting role, including senior scientists transitioning from full‑time industry careers, as well as experienced academic research scientists in the Boston/Cambridge scientific community who would welcome the opportunity to contribute directly to therapeutic development.

This is not primarily a management position. We are looking for a scientist who still enjoys experimental design, hands‑on laboratory work, troubleshooting, data interpretation, and scientific problem‑solving at the bench.

The scientist’s initial responsibility will be to establish, optimize, and conduct an in vitro anti‑nausea assay using recombinant stomach‑derived cells, including:

• Establishing and maintaining recombinant cell cultures
• Adapting and optimizing assay protocols
• Designing appropriate experimental controls
• Conducting concentration‑ and dose‑response studies
• Evaluating therapeutic candidates and formulations
• Assessing assay sensitivity, reproducibility, and variability
• Analyzing and interpreting experimental results
• Establishing standardized protocols and SOPs

Substantially in parallel, the scientist will contribute to in vitro research supporting Aphios’ GLP‑1 and Alzheimer’s disease programs, potentially including assays involving:

• Alpha-secretase activity
• Protein kinase C (PKC) activation and signaling
• Inflammatory and anti‑inflammatory pathways
• Cytokine expression and release
• Cell viability and cytotoxicity
• Cellular signaling and mechanistic studies
• Dose‑response evaluation of therapeutic candidates

Qualifications

Required

• PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Physiology, or a closely related discipline
• Strong hands‑on mammalian cell‑culture experience
• Demonstrated experience developing and conducting cell‑based assays
• Experience with recombinant or engineered cell systems
• Ability to independently establish, optimize, and troubleshoot assays
• Strong experimental design, quantitative analysis, and scientific documentation skills
• Desire to remain actively involved in laboratory research

Particularly Valuable Experience

• Pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D
• Gastrointestinal biology or nausea/emesis pharmacology
• GLP‑1 biology or receptor signaling
• Alzheimer’s disease/neurodegeneration
• PKC and alpha-secretase biology
• Cytokine and inflammatory assays
• ELISA, immunoassays, Western blotting, fluorescence, luminescence, or reporter assays
• Cell viability and cytotoxicity testing

An Opportunity for Experienced Scientists

This position may be particularly attractive to a senior industry scientist seeking to remain scientifically active on a flexible basis, or an experienced academic scientist interested in applying deep laboratory expertise directly to therapeutic development.

Rather than supervising a large research organization, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to personally establish important assays, generate and interpret data, and influence the scientific direction of multiple development programs.

The position is structured as part‑time / consulting, with flexibility based on experience, availability, and program requirements.

About Aphios

Aphios is advancing a diversified therapeutic portfolio that includes a planned Phase III clinical program for Zindol®, planned Phase IIb programs in opioid addiction and chronic epilepsy, and additional therapeutic programs progressing through IND‑enabling development.