Research Specialist / Scientist, Assay Development

Altos Labs; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 129,500 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Altos Labs is seeking a Research Specialist / Scientist to join the IVTS team within the Institute of Medicine. The role focuses on designing and executing ex vivo assays to characterize biomarkers and evaluate therapeutic targets, with strong emphasis on benchtop science and cross-functional collaboration.

The position requires extensive experience in assay design, tissue processing, and pharmacological characterization, with a track record of scientific impact in biotech/pharma.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree with 8+ years industry experience (Research Specialist).
• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or related field with 4+ years industry experience (Scientist).
• Experience designing and executing biochemical/biophysical assays (enzymatic, ELISA, MSD, AlphaLISA).
• Tissue processing with nucleic acid/protein QC; assay development and validation.
• Ability to design rigorous, reproducible experiments and communicate results clearly.
• Strong collaboration and cross-functional teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Execute ex vivo assays on tissues from in vivo studies and report results.
• Support ex vivo biomarker discovery in collaboration with IVTS and cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate new technologies to enhance study quality and efficiency.
• Maintain detailed ELN documentation and data traceability.
• Collaborate with in vivo teams to enable high-quality studies.
• Coordinate with Discovery Sciences, in vitro Pharmacology, DMPK, etc.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and inclusion.
• Allocate ~80% of time to benchtop science.

Skills

Enzymatic assays

ELISAs

MSD

AlphaLISA

Western blot

qPCR

ddPCR

Tissue processing

Biomarker analysis

Assay development

HTS platforms

Flow cytometry

Immunoprecipitation

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree

PhD in Molecular Biology or related field

Tools

ELN

HTS platforms

Microscopy

Job description

Research Specialist / Scientist, Assay Development

Our Mission

Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life.

Diversity at Altos

Altos Labs has been named one of the Top 3 Biotech Companies and ranked for the second year on the Forbes 2026 Best Startups in America list. At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment.

What You Will Contribute To Altos

An exciting opportunity is available for a Research Specialist / Scientist to join the In Vivo Translational Sciences (IVTS) team within the Institute of Medicine (IOM) at Altos Labs. We are seeking a highly skilled, self-motivated and talented individual to generate decisional data by designing and executing ex vivo assays. The ideal candidate will bring extensive knowledge of a wide variety of in vitro and ex vivo assay methodologies and a track record of successful scientific impact in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry with demonstrated experience completing high throughput, time-sensitive assays while maintaining data quality and reproducibility.

You will be responsible for working with researchers within IVTS to develop and execute assays to characterize biomarkers and evaluate therapeutic targets. The ideal candidate brings strong conceptual and technical grounding in assay design, lead screening, and pharmacological characterization. This includes proven competency in tissue processing, assay development, optimization, dilution testing, control validation, protocol validation, managing timelines, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to achieve milestones and deliverables.

We expect you to have a strong commitment to a team-based approach, with an emphasis on collaborative success and open communication. The ideal candidate should see themselves as an integral part of a larger team, actively contributing to a supportive and inclusive environment, sharing knowledge, and working together to overcome challenges and achieve collective goals.

Responsibilities

• Execute ex vivo assays on diverse tissues collected from in vivo studies, perform analyses, and report results.
• Support ex vivo biological analysis (e.g., biomarker discovery) in collaboration with other IVTS scientists, Altos Hubs and cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and platforms to enhance the efficiency and quality of studies.
• Maintain detailed documentation of all studies in an electronic lab notebook to ensure data integrity and traceability.
• Collaborate effectively with the in vivo operation teams to enable execution of high quality in vivo studies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Discovery Sciences, in vitro Pharmacology, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, etc. to support the development and progression of therapeutic programs.
• Contribute to a team culture that promotes continuous improvement, ownership, professional growth, and inclusion.
• The responsibilities of this role are expected to require ~80% of time dedicated to benchtop science.

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications

• Research Specialist experience requirements: Bachelors or Masters degree and 8+ years of industry experience.
• Scientist experience requirements: PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or related field, with at least 4 years relevant industry experience
• Extensive experience designing and executing biochemical and biophysical assays, including:
• Enzymatic assays, ELISAs, MSD, AlphaLISA, Western Blots, qPCR and ddPCR
• Assays for target engagement studies across diverse tissue and biofluid matrices
• Extensive experience with tissue processing methods, including extraction, quantification and QC of nucleic acids and proteins
• Demonstrated ability to design and troubleshoot assays to support diverse therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, gene therapies)
• Strong record of scientific productivity and the ability to independently design rigorous, reproducible, and generalizable experiments
• Proficient in documenting and communicating results clearly (e.g., ELN, slide decks, team presentations)
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong conceptual grounding in pharmacological characterization
• Experience with high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms and assay miniaturization
• Experience with microscopy and high content imaging
• Experience with flow cytometry
• Experience with immunoprecipitation assays
• Experience working on cellular or animal models relevant to age-related diseases (e.g., metabolic, neurodegenerative, immune-related, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal)

The salary range for Redwood City, CA:

• Research Specialist: $129,500 - $166,000
• Scientist I, Pharmacology: $131,400 - $168,400
• Scientist II, Pharmacology: $148,400 - $190,300

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We value collaboration and scientific excellence.

We believe that a culture of belonging are foundational to scientific innovation and inquiry. At Altos Labs, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining an inclusive environment.

Altos Labs provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Altos prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Thank you for your interest in Altos Labs where we strive for a culture of scientific excellence, learning, and belonging.

US Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirelyvoluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Altos Labs's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.