Scientist, Neurodegeneration

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Altos Labs in the San Francisco Bay Area is seeking a leading neuroscientist to drive a neurodegeneration portfolio. You will design, execute, and interpret studies using rodent models and human tissue, delivering actionable insights for therapeutic target validation.

This role emphasizes rigorous experimental design, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and data provenance to advance transformative therapies in CNS disease. Bay Area location, with a fast-paced team and cutting-edge techniques.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience (or related field) with 1+ year post-doc or industry neurodegeneration experience.
• Robust understanding of neurodegenerative disease biology and rodent models.
• Established publication record and conference presentation experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the science for a segment of our neurodegeneration portfolio, shaping research questions and driving studies to actionable conclusions.
• Model disease biology using in vivo rodent studies, selecting models, timepoints and endpoints.
• Analyze both rodent and human brain tissue, including dissection, sampling, fixation, cryopreservation, sectioning, and downstream characterization.
• Develop precise quantitative readouts for pathology and disease biology (protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, cell loss, vascular integrity).
• Collaborate across disciplines with internal teams and external CROs to deliver on timelines.
• Promote rigorous scientific standards (experimental design, blinding, randomization, data provenance, reproducibility).
• Contribute to program strategy and go/no-go discussions, flagting risks early.

Skills

Neurodegeneration

In Vivo & Imaging

Data-Driven Design

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Statistics

Education

Ph.D. in Neuroscience

Tools

Python

R

Bioinformatics

Job description

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.

For more information, see our website at altoslabs.com.

Our Value

Our Single Altos Value: Everyone Owns Achieving Our Inspiring Mission.

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

Join Altos Labs at the Bay Area Discovery Science center and play a pivotal role in our mission to reverse brain aging. We are seeking a driven neuroscientist with deep expertise in neurodegeneration to join our highly collaborative, fast-paced team. In this role, you will work closely with cross-functional experts to discover and validate optimal therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. If you are passionate about translating complex biology into transformative therapies, we want you on our team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Science: Act as the scientific lead for a key segment of our neurodegeneration portfolio. You will shape critical research questions, design robust experiments, and drive studies through to actionable, interpretable conclusions.
• Model Disease Biology: Design and execute in vivo studies using rodent models of neurodegeneration, strategically selecting models, timepoints, and endpoints tailored to specific biological questions and program stages.
• Analyze Complex Tissue: Process and analyze both rodent and human brain tissue. This includes dissection, regional sampling, fixation, cryopreservation, sectioning, and comprehensive downstream characterization (molecular, biochemical, and histological).
• Innovate Quantitative Readouts: Develop and apply precise quantitative readouts for pathology and disease biology, tracking markers such as protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, cell loss, and vascular integrity.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner closely with internal experts—including in vivo pharmacology, histology, molecular biology, computational, and program management teams—as well as external collaborators and CROs to seamlessly deliver on shared timelines.
• Champion Scientific Rigor: Establish and promote the highest technical and cultural standards across our scientific functions. You will help embed foundational practices—such as experimental rigor, blinding, randomization, data provenance, and reproducibility—into our day-to-day operations.
• Drive Strategic Decisions: Actively contribute to program strategy and high-level decision-making, providing critical input on go/no-go recommendations. We value transparent communication, so you will be expected to flag risks early and candidly.
• Ensure Data Integrity: Maintain rigorous, traceable records and structured data capture, ensuring your findings can be easily reviewed, reproduced, and built upon by the wider team.
• Stay Ahead of the Curve: Keep a close pulse on the latest neurodegeneration literature and proactively bring relevant external developments to bear on our internal research programs.

Who You Are

The level of the position will depend on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skill and Abilities

Core Expertise & Credentials

• Neurodegeneration Specialist: You hold a Ph.D. in Neuroscience (or a related field) backed by 1+ years of post-doctoral or industry research experience focused on neurodegeneration.
• Disease Biology Deep-Dive: You bring a robust understanding of neurodegenerative disease biology, including a nuanced perspective on the strengths and limitations of the rodent models used to study it.
• Proven Track Record: You have an established publication record in the field and are accustomed to presenting your findings at conferences or similar scientific venues.

Technical & Experimental Capabilities

• Hands-on Analyst: You have extensive, practical experience processing and analyzing both rodent and human brain tissue samples.
• In Vivo & Imaging: You have practical experience with animal surgeries, behavior, and vascular biology, and are proficient in imaging and behavioral analysis techniques.
• Therapeutic Fluency: You have experience working with therapeutic modalities relevant to the Central Nervous System (CNS), such as AAV-based approaches, ASOs, or small molecules.
• Data-Driven Design: You possess strong quantitative and statistical judgment, enabling you to design appropriately powered studies, analyze complex data, and interpret results objectively without over-extrapolating.
• In Vivo & Imaging: You have practical experience with animal surgeries, behavior, and vascular biology, and are proficient in imaging and behavioral analysis techniques.

Scientific Mindset & Adaptability

• Fiercely Independent & Rigorous: You are highly self-directed—capable of defining a problem, selecting the right approach, and driving it to a conclusion with minimal oversight. You practice rigorous critical thinking and are always willing to interrogate your own data or change your position when the evidence warrants it.
• Thrive in Dynamic Environments: You are comfortable and composed in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment where priorities can shift, decisions carry real weight, and quality must be sustained under pressure.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Cross-Functional Collaborator: You excel at working across disciplines and possess the strong communication skills needed to present complex technical datasets clearly to broad, mixed audiences.
• Standard Bearer: You are enthusiastic about defining, implementing, and championing technical and cultural standards (like experimental rigor and reproducibility) across our scientific functions.

Preferred Qualifications, Knowledge, Skill and Abilities

• In Vivo & Imaging: You have practical experience with animal surgeries, behavior, and vascular biology, and are proficient in imaging and behavioral analysis techniques.
• Omics Interest: You have some exposure to analyzing biological datasets and a strong desire to build deep expertise in transcriptomics, proteomics, or spatial approaches.
• Technical Foundations: You possess basic skills in bioinformatics data processing or programming (e.g., Python or R) and are eager to apply these to large-scale data management.
• Human Cohort Awareness: You are interested in expanding your knowledge of working with human post-mortem or biopsy samples and the unique challenges of cohort-level data.
• Technique Expansion: You are motivated to learn advanced imaging techniques, spatial biology, or high-content quantitative histology to enhance your research.
• Collaborative Teamwork: You demonstrate strong potential for growth and a commitment to working effectively within a high-performing, collaborative team environment.
• Clear Communicator: You are a clear and effective communicator, capable of presenting technical information to your peers and cross-functional partners.

The salary range for Redwood City:

• Scientist I:
• Scientist II:

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

#LI-NN1

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.