What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Research Associate - In Vivo position at Protagonist Therapeutics?
In Vivo Senior Research Associate
Job Description
The Senior Research Associate will be working in the in vivo pharmacology group of the Research and Development team. The candidate will work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and assist in designing and executing in vivo preclinical studies covering all R&D research programs. In this role, the Senior Research Associate will perform multiple pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics and efficacy studies testing various therapeutic agents and combination regimens in rodent models. We expect the individual in this position to be forward thinking and creative to help different project teams. This individual must also possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
Duties and responsibilities include:
Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. The Company's proprietary peptide technology platform enables de novo discovery of peptide therapeutics. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are at or near commercialization. ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ICOTYDE is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc.,a Johnson & Johnson company. ICOTYDE was jointly discovered by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists, with Protagonist having primary responsibility for the development of ICOTYDE through Phase 1, and Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for further development and commercialization. An NDA for rusfertide, a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide that is being co-developed with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide license and collaboration agreement entered in 2024, is under priority review with the FDA. Protagonist holds an option to co-commercialize rusfertide in the U.S. through a 50/50 profit and loss share structure or can opt-out of this structure. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets including an oral IL-17 peptide antagonist, obesity dual and triple agonists, an oral hepcidin functional mimetic, and the recently announced IL-4 and amylin programs.
More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates, and clinical studies can be found on the Company's website at https://www.protagonist-inc.com.
Job Description
The Senior Research Associate will be working in the in vivo pharmacology group of the Research and Development team. The candidate will work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and assist in designing and executing in vivo preclinical studies covering all R&D research programs. In this role, the Senior Research Associate will perform multiple pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics and efficacy studies testing various therapeutic agents and combination regimens in rodent models. We expect the individual in this position to be forward thinking and creative to help different project teams. This individual must also possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
Duties and responsibilities include:
- Design and perform pharmacology and MOA studies in rodent models of disease focusing on the characterization of novel drug targets and candidates across various disease indications including inflammation, hematology and obesity.
- Design and perform in vivo studies to evaluate the PK and PD of drug candidates in rodent models.
- Proficient in rodent blood collection methods (cardiac puncture, submandibular, tail vein, etc.), necropsy and tissue harvest procedures.
- Proficient in dosing techniques: PO, IP, IV, SC, ID and IM, IT and inhalation will be a plus.
- Perform daily animal health and environmental monitoring checks as well as monitor ongoing studies.
- Detailed record keeping, data collection, tracking, and analysis using appropriate software (e.g. GraphPad Prism)
- General maintenance in the animal facility.
- Performing animal health and technical experimental procedures.
- Independently observe, record, and report atypical findings of the environment, and animal health or behavior. These observations are to include but are not limited to sick animals, maintenance issues, and safety hazards.
- Provide weekend/holiday coverage as needed.
- Follow laboratory safety guidelines and practices.
- Prepare data reports and present findings in project and group meetings.
- A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in biological sciences, animal sciences, or related discipline.
- 5-10 years of experience in an animal laboratory setting.
- Must be willing to be onsite 5 days a week
- Experience with design and execution of rodent pharmacology studies. Solid experience in the care, handling, and treatment of laboratory animals.
- Experience in inflammatory disease (like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, etc.), obesity/diabetes and hematology models will be a plus
- Good organizational and documentation skills and a keen attention to detail.
- Use time efficiently and productively; prioritize multiple tasks properly to meet deadlines; recognize time constraints and adjust work schedule as needed to complete tasks.
- Enthusiastically take ownership of new opportunities and challenges.
- Establish positive and mutually respectful relationships with colleagues within and outside of the department.
Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. The Company's proprietary peptide technology platform enables de novo discovery of peptide therapeutics. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are at or near commercialization. ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ICOTYDE is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc.,a Johnson & Johnson company. ICOTYDE was jointly discovered by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists, with Protagonist having primary responsibility for the development of ICOTYDE through Phase 1, and Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for further development and commercialization. An NDA for rusfertide, a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide that is being co-developed with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide license and collaboration agreement entered in 2024, is under priority review with the FDA. Protagonist holds an option to co-commercialize rusfertide in the U.S. through a 50/50 profit and loss share structure or can opt-out of this structure. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets including an oral IL-17 peptide antagonist, obesity dual and triple agonists, an oral hepcidin functional mimetic, and the recently announced IL-4 and amylin programs.
More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates, and clinical studies can be found on the Company's website at https://www.protagonist-inc.com.
Salary : $100,000 - $115,000