In Vivo Scientist / Research Associate
Junipero Therapeutics
Durham, NC, USA
Posted on Aug 19, 2026
This is a hands-on bench and vivarium role at an early-stage company. You will run the studies yourself rather than supervise someone else running them, and you will have direct input into study design.
What you will do
- Execute murine in vivo studies end to end: animal receipt and acclimation, dosing (subcutaneous and intravenous), in-life monitoring, terminal procedures, and tissue collection
- Prepare and maintain IACUC protocols and animal-use records; serve as day-to-day liaison with the vivarium's staff
- Formulate and prepare solutions for intravenous and subcutaneous injections
- Perform downstream molecular analysis of collected tissue: RNA and protein extraction, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and related target-engagement assays
- Design and run dose-ranging and time-course arms; analyze and present dose-response and duration-of-effect data
- Maintain rigorous electronic lab notebook records
What we are looking for
- BS/MS with 2+ years, or PhD with relevant postdoctoral or industry experience, in molecular biology, pharmacology, genetics, biomedical engineering, or a related field
- Demonstrated hands-on rodent in vivo experience, including dosing, in-life monitoring, necropsy, and tissue collection
- Working knowledge of IACUC protocol preparation and animal welfare compliance
- Proficiency in standard molecular assays: RNA/DNA extraction, RT-qPCR, Western blot, ELISA, and quantitative data analysis
- Ability to work independently, troubleshoot in real time, and operate effectively in a small-company environment without layered support functions
- You move with a sense of urgency
Nice to have
- Direct experience with oligonucleotide therapeutics
- Experience in liver-associated targets and associated biomarker readouts
- Experience establishing a new in vivo capability, or transferring studies between a sponsor and a CRO
- Comfort with molecular biology bench work — tissue culture, PCR, cloning and the like. Genuinely just a plus, not something we expect
The details
- Full-time and on-site at BioLabs Durham, 701 West Main Street, with animal work at a vivarium suite in RTP
- You will report to the Head of R&D
- Early-stage team, so you will have broad scope and a real hand in how things are done