Senior Research Associate

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction.

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Research Associate to join our Discovery Biology group and contribute to the early stages of our drug discovery efforts. Our team employs a broad range of innovative biochemical and cellular approaches to identify and optimize compounds that improve cardiac and skeletal muscle metabolism, regeneration, health, and contractility.

The successful candidate will play an important role in designing and executing experiments that advance novel therapeutic programs aimed at improving human health.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and execute cellular, molecular, and biochemical assays to support target validation, hit identification and mechanism-of-action studies.

• Design and perform high-content imaging (HCI) assays using skeletal and/or cardiac muscle cell models, including image acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of complex datasets.

• Perform mammalian cell culture and routine cell maintenance, including the generation and characterization of cellular models through transfection of plasmids, reporter constructs, and labeled proteins/genes.

• Conduct downstream molecular and biochemical analyses, including Western blotting, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and related techniques, to validate cellular phenotypes and mechanisms.

• Analyze experimental data using appropriate software tools and communicate results through clear written reports and verbal presentations.

• Perform literature reviews and evaluate genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets to support target discovery and research strategy.

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to identify, characterize, and advance therapeutic candidates through research and preclinical development.

• Maintain accurate, organized, and timely experimental records in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs), ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related scientific discipline, with 4–5+ years of research experience in academia, biotechnology, or the pharmaceutical industry.

• Hands-on experience with high-content imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and image-based assay development and execution.

• Experience performing mammalian cell transfection and working with reporter systems, fluorescently labeled proteins, or genetic constructs.

• Strong expertise in downstream molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, including Western blotting, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and cell-based assays.

• Experience culturing and assaying mammalian cells, preferably skeletal muscle and/or cardiac cell models.

• Proficiency in data analysis, visualization, and interpretation using tools such as Excel, GraphPad Prism, and imaging analysis software.

• Excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and a demonstrated commitment to maintaining thorough and accurate laboratory documentation, including ELN records.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

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Pay Range:

In the U.S., the hiring pay range for fully qualified candidates is $108,000-$126,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.

Please review our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy PRIOR to applying.  

Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep the patient front and center in all we do – all actions and decisions are in service of the patient and their caregivers. We champion integrity, ethics, doing the right thing, and being our best selves.

Fraud Warning: How to Identify Impersonated Cytokinetics Job Postings and Offers

Recently, there have been fraudulent employment offers being sent to candidates on behalf of Cytokinetics. Please be advised that all legitimate offers from Cytokinetics will come directly from our official email domain (Cytokinetics.com) and will only be made after completing a formal interview process.

Here are some ways to check for authenticity:

• We do not conduct job interviews through non-standard text messaging applications

• We will never request personal information such as banking details until after an official offer has been accepted and verified

• We will never request that you purchase equipment or other items when interviewing or hiring

• If you are unsure about the authenticity of an offer, or if you receive any suspicious communication, please contact us directly at talentacquisition@cytokinetics.com

Please visit our website at: www.cytokinetics.com

Cytokinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer