Research Associate, Translational Biology (Contract)

About Septerna

Septerna is a biotechnological firm located in South San Francisco, CA, dedicated to developing transformative medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Utilizing its proprietary Native Complex Platform™, Septerna replicates GPCRs in their natural conformations and functions outside cells, enabling innovative access to cutting-edge structural and screening technologies for drug discovery. The company boasts a growing pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule treatments aimed at previously undruggable GPCRs.

The organization values diversity, collaboration, and innovation, encouraging employees to contribute their unique skills and creativity towards ground-breaking therapeutic advancements addressing high unmet medical needs.

Position Overview

This contract role demands 20-30 hours weekly over six months based in South San Francisco, CA. The candidate will primarily conduct in vivo rodent studies to unravel therapeutic mechanisms and support Septerna's drug discovery efforts. Some involvement in ex vivo or in vitro studies within the Translational Sciences Department may arise. The role requires independent and team-oriented work executing experiments to establish pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships and evaluate drug candidate efficacy, including data generation to elucidate mechanisms and priority ranking for preclinical development. The work environment mainly involves laboratory duties complemented by desk tasks. Regular weekend work is part of the schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct in vivo pharmacology experiments probing therapeutic mechanisms in relevant disease models.
• Collaborate in deciphering drug candidates' mechanisms primarily via in vivo approaches.
• Participate actively in multiple project teams simultaneously.
• Administer dosing to large numbers of rodents (approximately 50-80 rats daily).
• Maintain and organize laboratory environments efficiently.
• Adhere strictly to company policies and ensure precise documentation and record-keeping.
• Perform routine study activities during weekends as required.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum of two years full-time hands-on experience managing in vivo studies within academia or the biotech/pharmaceutical sectors.
• Prior vivarium experience with rats and proficiency in various administration routes (oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intravenous, intramuscular) plus sample collection techniques including tail vein and jugular bleeds, cardiac puncture, and necropsies.
• Proven teamwork skills with a focus on accurate and consistent data collection and recording alongside other scientists.
• Strong problem-solving capability and collaboration aptitude in biological experimentation contexts.
• Detail-oriented and well-organized personality with excellent interpersonal communication skills fostering effective teamwork and engagement.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacology, Toxicology, Animal Science, or a related biological discipline.
• Experience conducting protein and nucleic acid assays such as ELISA and qPCR.
• Familiarity with subcutaneous injections and oral gavage dosing methods.
• Skilled in timed blood sampling and sample processing.
• Background in cell culture techniques.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools like Excel and Prism.
• Experience with rodent surgical models.
• Exposure to therapeutic research in endocrine, inflammatory, neurological, or metabolic disease areas.

Compensation & Other Details

The expected compensation falls between $30 and $40 per hour, varying by skill set, experience, location, and educational background. Employment agencies are not requested to submit candidate resumes as unsolicited resumes will not generate fees. Septerna is an equal opportunity employer participating in the E-Verify program with a commitment to fair hiring practices respecting diversity and inclusion.