Associate Scientist

AltPep Corporation is a biomedical startup based along Seattle's Lake Union focused on developing early disease-modifying treatments and detection tools for amyloid diseases by targeting one of the earliest molecular triggers – toxic soluble oligomers. These toxic oligomers are associated with many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and type 2 diabetes.

AltPep draws its origins to Dr. Valerie Daggett's lab at the University of Washington's Bioengineering Department. The company closed a significant round of financing in mid-2023 and is currently seeking to expand at its new, state-of-the-art, headquarters located on the Eastside of Lake Union in Seattle.

About This Role

We are seeking a meticulous and dynamic individual to join our team to anchor the in vitro and translational biology side of our research. You will design and run cell and tissue culture experiments, standardize our core in vitro assays, and process tissue for downstream analysis, while also supporting in vivo rodent studies. A central part of this role is bridging our in vitro and in vivo work, translating findings between systems so that each informs and strengthens the other. Working both independently and collaboratively, you will help maintain and organize and well-prepared lab and vivarium, analyze and present data, and contribute meaningfully to the direction of our research programs.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, execute, and standardize in vitro cell and tissue culture experiments, including assays such as the MTT assay for routine toxicity and efficacy assessments.

• Perform tissue processing and analysis (e.g. histology or biomarker measurements) across both in vitro and in vivo studies.

• Bridge our in vitro and in vivo work, translating findings between models to inform experimental design and project strategy.

• Support the execution and implementation of in vivo rodent (mice and rat) studies to evaluate therapeutic modalities and strategies, including efficacy, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, and mechanism of action analyses.

• Work individually and as part of a team to execute and perform hands-on studies.

• Assist with vivarium and lab maintenance, including but not limited to sample preparation and inventory, reagent preparation, and general upkeep.

• Analyze data and prepare results for internal presentation.

• Present in meetings and take ownership of projects or portions of projects.

• Document and update the experimental samples list in a timely manner to advise project strategy and next steps.

What You Bring:

Must Haves:

• B.A. / M.S. with 5 years of experience or M.S. degree with 3 years of experience in the field of Biology, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, or a related field and relevant animal/laboratory experience either in an industry or academic setting.

• Hands-on experience with cell and tissue culture, including the ability to standardize routine assays such as the MTT assay for toxicity and efficacy assessments.

• Proficiency in histology, including sectioning, staining, and imaging of tissue samples.

• Proficiency in tissue processing, including harvest, fixation, embedding, and preparation for downstream analysis.

• Ability and willingness to support in vivo mouse studies, with a translational mindset for bridging in vitro and in vivo work.

What Will Separate You From The Rest:

• Experience with 3D tissue cultures and organ models is a plus.

• Experience with iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) line is a plus.

• Experience with biomarker analysis, such as MSD(Meso Scale Discovery) assays, is a plus.

• Experience in neuroscience is a plus.

Debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's affect more than a billion people worldwide. Drawing upon decades of academic research, AltPep was founded to create groundbreaking tools to detect and treat such diseases. Although a young company, AltPep has been recognized for its scientific accomplishment and potential.

While still small and nimble, we have grown to a team of thirty talented individuals dedicated to improving the lives of billions. We continue to grow and are looking for talented people to join the team and help us accomplish our mission.

We offer competitive compensation to those joining our fight. The compensation range for an Associate Scientist is $85,000 - $105,000, depending on experience. AltPep takes care of its employees and offers generous stock options, medical, vision, and dental coverage for its employees and their dependents. We understand, and value, life outside of work and offer competitive PTO so you can rest and recharge.