Position Title: Cardiac Discovery Biologist ir Bioengineer

Level: Research Scientist 1

FLSA Status: Exempt – Full time

Position Overview: Specializing in cardiac cell biology and assay development, the Cardiac Biologist or Bioengineer will be responsible for supervising and performing research, including development of engineered heart tissues (EHTs) in microtiter plates; designing, implementing and analyzing results of assays of: hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for a recently funded NIH grant; and drug discovery using primary adult cardiomyocytes harvested from dogs, mice and rabbits. The scientist will conduct research relevant to drug safety (cardiotoxicity) and efficacy (heart failure and antiarrhythmia theraepeutic development).

Essential Responsibilities:

• Participate in the design and drug discovery validation of constructs in 96-well plates to facilitate formation of EHTs for single-cell measurements via Vala’s IC200-KIC platform.
• Participate in creating new drug discovery assays of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, including participating in a team effort to develop new artificial intelligence / deep learning approaches to improve sensitivity and predictivity of toxicity (side effects) and efficacy in human clinical trials.
• Supervise and perform cell culture work, to proliferate and aliquote human induced pluriopotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiSC-CMs) for storage (banking), manufacture iPSC-CMs, culture them in microtiter plates, carry out drug discovery/safety screens using Vala’s IC200-KIC platform, analyze the results and prepare reports for NIH and customer contracts.
• Peform analogous KIC screens using primary adult cardiomyoctyes derived from hearts isolated from dogs, rats, mouse, rabbits, and possibly humans.
• Supervise and perform cell culture work to prepare for experiments for developing cardiomyocyte-based assays for toxicology testing and drug discovery relevant to a range of afflictions and diseases including testing of compounds for pro- and anti-arrhythmic, as well as pro-myopathic and anti-myopathic effects. Conduct experiments on cardiomyocytes that are relevant to assay development for pharmaceutical service contracts, contract- and grant-sponsored research on drug toxicity and drug-discovery, and experiments for in-house drug discovery and development.
• Interpret data, which will include using and programming Vala’s in-house CyteSeer Analysis software platform and utilizing applications such as Image J, Excel, Graph Pad Prism to perform additional analyses and test for statistical significance.
• Preparation and oral presentation of results to Vala co-workers in internal meetings and to summarize results and help prepare reports on progress to funding agencies (e.g., NIH), managment, investors, and for contract research with pharmaceutical companies.
• Prepare and present poster and oral presentations, reporting the results of Vala’s research at scientific meetings.
• Prepare and assist with preparation of: grant proposals, manuscripts for publication, application notes (instructional/promotional materials to be distributed to customers for marketing purposes), and material for Vala’s webpage and related internet content.
• Other duties and projects as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications:

• M.S. or Ph.D in Biology or related field
• Experience in the preparation and use of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and primary adult cardiomyocytes to test compounds for toxic or beneficial effects relevant to drug safety and heart failure.
• Interest and experience in improving iPSC-cardiomyocyte maturity by developing methods compatible with 96- and 384-well plates would be a plus.
• Experience in the use of image analysis programs for quantifying beating behavior and contractile function in cardiomyocytes; examples of such systems include Image J, and the IonOptix system, which are used to quantify calcium transients/voltage transients and or contractile motion, in vitro).
• Ability to follow all lab safety requirements and protocols
• Ability to grasp complex problems and find solutions
• Ability to handle biological materials and use research equipment and tools properly and within guidelines
• Ability to present data orally and written in a comprehensive, understandable manner
• Ability to supervise technical staff and interns

Work Environment:

Vala Sciences, Inc., builds high-speed kinetic image cytometry (KIC), AKA video microscopy (analogous to “slow motion” cinematography) instruments for single-cell analyses of fast activities (action potentials, contraction, etc.) of human stem cell-derived brain, heart, muscle, and other cell types; develops and validates assays and screens for use in early drug development in pharmaceutical companies; and develops new therapeutics for related diseases.

The scientist will work in a lab performing experiments about 50% of the time and at an office desk about 50% of the time performing analyzing results and composing reports, publications and presentations of them. Safe lab practices must be followed at all times following established guidelines.

Salary: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k)

Job Type: Full-time