Research Associate II - In Vivo

BlueRock Therapeutics•New York, NY

20h•$78,000 - $92,700•Onsite

About The Position

BlueRock Therapeutics LP is a clinical stage cell therapy harnessing the power of cell therapy to create a pipeline of new medicines for people suffering from neurological and ophthalmic diseases. Two of our novel investigational cell therapies, bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01) for the treatment of Parkinsonâs disease and OpCT-001 for the treatment of primary photoreceptor diseases are clinical stage programs. BlueRock was founded in 2016 as a joint venture of Versant Ventures and Leaps by Bayer. Our culture is defined by the courage to persist regardless of the challenge, the urgency to transform medicine and deliver hope, integrity guided by mission, and community-mindedness with the understanding that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. Our foundational science harnesses the ability to create and then direct the differentiation of universal pluripotent stem cells into authentic, functional cells that can be used as allogeneic cellular therapies to treat a broad array of diseases. We can also further engineer these cells, enabling them to produce enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins for additional therapeutic benefit. We are passionate about delivering on the promise of cellular and gene therapy, shaping the future of cellular medicine, and delivering new therapies to millions of patients with treatment options. We are seeking individuals who are collaborative, thrive in a fun and dynamic culture, and are steadfast in the commitment to advance cutting-edge cellular therapies to impact patientsâ lives. BlueRock Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our In Vivo team in New York, NY. Under direct supervision, this individual will be an integral member of the In Vivo Research team and will assist with research activities to support the characterization of our cellular therapies in animal models. Individuals in this role are expected to have prior experience with animal handling and understand the importance of prioritizing animal welfare in a research setting. Key responsibilities include performing stereotaxic surgeries, tissue collection, and executing various behavioral assays coupled to histological analysis. The candidate should be comfortable working independently and exhibit excellent time management and record keeping skills. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to bringing a new class of cellular therapies to patients using our unique CELL+GENE platform.

Requirements

Research Associate II: Bachelorâs degree and a minimum of 2 years OR Masterâs degree and 0+ years of relevant professional experience.
Must have at least 2 years of experience handling/working with mice in a laboratory setting.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and time management skills in an extremely fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
Knowledge of good documentation practices required in a preclinical environment is desirable; ability to independently draft standard operating procedures preferred.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Comfort using various software programs including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), documentation management software (SharePoint, Benchling), and statistical analysis software is ideal.

Nice To Haves

Candidates with neuroscience-related experience (e.g., intracranial injections, cardiac perfusions, and drug dosing) will be given priority consideration.

Responsibilities

Perform stereotaxic surgery in mice and assist with surgical operations including surgical tool sterilization, animal prep and post-operative care.
Assist with mouse breeding colonies, including pairing breeders and separating mating cages.
Perform routine health checks (i.e. cage side assessment and recording weekly/monthly body weights) and necessary interventions (i.e. nail trimming, adding wet food or euthanasia).
Conduct and support various behavioral assays in mouse coupled to behavioral scoring/analysis.
Assist with drug dosing via various routes of administration (i.e. IP, PO, SC).
Perform cardiac perfusions and tissue collection.
Perform tissue processing (cyrosectioning) coupled to various immunohistochemical techniques.
Perform image acquisition by microscopy (widefield, confocal).
Maintain accurate records of animals.
Present scientific data to peers at internal and external platforms.
Analyze and document experimental data in a timely and accurate manner.
Prepare and follow standard operating procedures and experiment plans.
Strict adherence to animal welfare protocols and humane treatment of research animals
Adherence to biosafety measures, use of Personal Protective Equipment, and disinfection of incoming materials.
This position requires the employee to be on-site at least 5 days/week due to hands-on laboratory work.
This position requires occasional compensated overtime on the weekend.
Contributes to project and team results by generating high-quality, reliable scientific data that informs decision-making.
Demonstrates strong laboratory practices, shares knowledge with peers, and contributes to a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
Builds technical credibility and positively influences team effectiveness through preparation, communication, and consistency in the lab.