Research Associate (Organ Perfusion)

Until; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous medical, dental and vision insurance

Flexible time off and paid holidays

Competitive compensation package

401(k) retirement savings plan

FSA and commuter benefits

Subsidized lunch daily

Job summary

A moonshot company is seeking a dedicated Research Associate to join their organ preservation team in San Francisco. This role focuses on developing organ perfusion protocols and requires an undergraduate degree in a STEM field along with 2 years of relevant laboratory experience. Candidates should demonstrate problem-solving skills and a passion for organ physiology. The position offers an opportunity for significant impact, competitive compensation including salary and equity, and generous benefits.

Qualifications

• 2 years experience performing complex laboratory procedures.
• Passion for rapid problem solving and exploration of novel topics.
• Desire to work in a laboratory setting.
• Desire to work in a laboratory setting and contribute to an ambitious project.

Responsibilities

• Perform pig organ isolation and ex-vivo evaluation protocols.
• Evaluate health of organs following cryopreservation.
• Conduct experimental tests to optimize preservation protocol.
• Ensure accurate sample processing and data reporting.

Skills

Laboratory procedures

Problem solving

Ex vivo organ perfusion

Viability assessment

Physiology

Education

Undergraduate degree in a STEM field

Tools

Histology

Perfusion equipment

Job description

Until is a moonshot company building a “pause button” for biology. Our near‑term focus is organ‑scale reversible cryopreservation: preserving donated organs at subzero temperatures without ice formation, then rewarming them uniformly for transplant. By solving this grand challenge, we’re laying the foundation for whole‑body reversible cryopreservation, giving patients a bridge to future cures.

To achieve our goal, we are assembling an interdisciplinary team to develop perfusion systems, cryoprotectant formulations, and vitrification and rewarming hardware.

We envision a future where no transplantable organ is lost to logistics, and no terminal diagnosis is final because patients can safely wait for future medicine to arrive.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated full‑time Research Associate to join our whole organ preservation team. As Research Associate, you will play a vital role in the scientific progress of our research program. The primary focus of this role is on developing organ perfusion protocols, with an emphasis on organ isolation, preservation, and viability evaluation. The person in this role is encouraged to take on significant ownership of specific technical challenges.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and engineers across the company on a variety of methods inspired by first principles of biology, physics, and chemistry. Creative scientific engagement is encouraged, and new avenues for discovery and optimization are continuously supported.

Responsibilities

• Perform pig organ isolation and ex‑vivo evaluation protocols, including perfusion and histology
• Work within the scientific team to evaluate the health of organs following cryopreservation
• Survey literature and conduct experimental tests to answer critical questions toward optimizing the preservation protocol
• Ensure accurate sample processing and on‑time data reporting

Qualifications

• You have an undergraduate degree in a STEM field, or significant STEM‑related training
• You have 2 years experience and an excellent record of success performing complex and demanding laboratory procedures, ideally with training in ex vivo organ perfusion and viability assessment
• You have demonstrated a passion for rapid problem solving and exploration of novel topics / protocols
• You desire to work in a laboratory setting
• You have experience or interest in physiology, with a creative approach to understanding and manipulating functions of organs
• You demonstrate agency, problem solving, passion for discovery, and a drive to push the boundaries of science through meaningful involvement in an ambitious project

Benefits

• Opportunity for outsized impact creating the future as an early team member
• Generous medical, dental and vision insurance coverage
• Flexible time off and paid holidays
• Competitive compensation package, including salary and equity
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• FSA and commuter benefits
• Subsidized lunch daily

As an equal opportunity employer, Until is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals. All applicants for positions at Until will be treated without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

While this represents our expected range based on market data, final compensation will be determined based on your specific qualifications and may be outside this range. Please keep in mind that the equity portion of the offer is not included in this estimate.