Associate Scientist, Research

Summary

Visterra, Inc., is looking to hire a highly motivated Associate Scientist with a research background in immunology, cell and molecular biology and/or biochemistry applied in the context of therapeutic drug discovery. This individual will play a supporting role in advancing both Visterra’s early discovery and later stage research programs in kidney disease, autoimmunity, and other related areas of therapeutic interest, through the implementation of biological and biochemical assays to support the discovery and validation of therapeutic antibody candidates. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in biology, immunology, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry or related field and a minimum of five years (post-graduate) of research experience, preferably in a biotech or a pharmaceutical setting. Relevant experience in the screening and characterization of biologics is highly preferred. The individual will independently define and implement experiments while applying their technical knowledge towards discovering candidate drugs. The individual will have the opportunity to develop further technical and leadership skills while working with an experienced drug discovery team in a fast-paced research environment.

This is a full-time laboratory-based position located at Visterra’s facility in Waltham, MA

Key duties and responsibilities

• Perform experiments involving the in vitro screening and characterization of antibody and biologics-based drug candidates using various immunological, biochemical, and cell-based assays (e.g., ELISA, MSD, BLI, flow cytometry), while critically analyzing data for patterns, inconsistencies, and potential optimizations.
• Perform biophysical and chemical characterization of antibodies and antigens using binding affinity platforms such as Octet, Carterra, and Biacore, as well as analytical assays including HPLC, SDS-PAGE, CE-SDS, and thermal melt analyses.
• Assist in the design and cloning of antigens and antibodies using in silico molecular biology tools
• Support in vivo studies towards antibody discovery, PK/PD, and early pre-clinical studies, correlating findings with in vitro data to refine therapeutic candidate selection.
• Participate in the construction and screening of antibody libraries through immunization, antibody display, flow cytometry and repertoire analysis using NGS.
• Implement additional bioassays for the evaluation of drug potency, specificity, and mechanism of action, considering orthogonal validation approaches and assay refinement for improved sensitivity and reproducibility.
• Summarize data sets, results, and research updates in both written documents and presentations, applying critical thinking and data visualization techniques to communicate findings effectively.
• Operate effectively and collaboratively in a team-oriented, cross-functional research and development organization, contributing to discussions, troubleshooting challenges, and identifying key next steps for project advancement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in biology, immunology, biochemistry, or a related field.
• At least five years of laboratory-based research experience (preferably in industry).
• Hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, Sanger or Next Generation Sequencing.
• Recombinant protein expression and purification.
• Biochemical assays (e.g., SDS-PAGE, BLI, SPR, Octet, Carterra, ELISA).
• Aseptic technique and mammalian cell culture.
• Cell-based assays
• (e.g., cell activation, proliferation, cytotoxicity assays using cell lines or primary cells).
• Strong critical thinking, analytical skills, and data interpretation.
• Demonstrated scientific communication skills (written and oral).
• Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of working both independently and within a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with biologics, therapeutic antibodies, and/or cell-based therapeutics.
• Experience in developing robust quantitative binding and biochemical assays.

Management responsibilities: This position may include supervisory responsibilities of co-ops or entry-level researchers.

Travel: Possible travel to local and national conferences.

Company

Visterra is a clinical stage biotechnology company committed to developing innovative antibody-based therapies for the treatment of patients with kidney diseases and other hard-to-treat diseases. Our proprietary technology platform enables the design and engineering of precision antibody-based product candidates that specifically bind to, and modulate, key disease targets. Applying this technology to disease targets that are not adequately addressed by traditional therapeutic approaches, we are developing a robust pipeline of novel therapies for patients with unmet needs.

Visterra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc., which is a U.S. holding company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan. Visterra has approximately 125 employees and is located in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Visterra provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.