Research Associate/Senior Research Associate

Shape^TX® is pioneering the field of programmable RNA medicines to repair the genetic causes of diseases. By merging innovations in AI and RNA technology to generate and analyze hundreds of billions of therapeutic possibilities, Shape^TX is developing breakthroughs in RNA editing, next-generation AAVs, and disruptive gene therapy manufacturing. The Shape^TX platform enables pharma innovators to design treatments across a wide range of diseases, including rare genetic disorders as well as debilitating conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many more. You can find us at shapetx.com and on LinkedIn and Twitter.

At Shape^TX, we are a dynamic team of professionals who are dedicated and passionate about making cures a reality. Through diversity of thought, scientific knowledge, professional rigor and focus we are merging cutting-edge science with extensive drug development expertise to unlock cures to many debilitating diseases.

Shape Therapeutics is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Position Overview

This role includes basic laboratory and mouse colony management responsibilities and requires a high level of organization and capacity to support multiple experiments. Under minimal supervision, skilled care & handling of laboratory animals in a safe and sanitary manner are provided. Primary working areas include standard housing areas as well as specialized areas including, but not limited to, surgical and behavioral assay procedure rooms, bio-hazardous areas, and animal colonies requiring specialized procedures. The candidate will ensure that activities performed are in compliance with standards set forth by NIH and USDA as well as the IACUC and Institutional SOP. 

In addition, this position will partner with project and study leads to help perform in vivo studies and provide samples for ex vivo assays that enable efficient project advancement. This role requires a high level of organization and capacity to coordinate strategic planning to provide sufficient animals for multiple experiments, as well as assay support and some data analysis and reporting.

An ideal candidate will have broad in vivo colony management and mouse health monitoring experience, basic laboratory skills, a collaborative spirit, and a desire to work in a fast-paced startup environment.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead colony management activities, including breeding, weaning, animal identification (ear-tagging, microchipping, or alternative ID methods), and maintaining accurate colony populations in colony management software and advise study leads on timing and scale of breeding requests to support their programs.
• Manage incoming in vivo tissue requests from Pipeline and Delivery Sciences; set-up dedicated breeding pairs as needed, collect tissues, coordinate with requesting scientists on sample delivery.
• Perform genotyping assays which may entail some basic PCR protocols, running samples on a gel, and correctly interpreting results.
• In support of in vivo studies, perform routine procedures and injections (IV, IM, IP, SC) in mice, monitor animal health & body weight, and assist with blood sampling and/or tissue collection.
• Assist with and/or independently perform phenotype scoring and behavioral assays, graph and analyze results for inclusion and presentation in study reports and project team meetings.
• Assist with and/or perform specialized procedures, such as intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections, intravitreal injections, and transcardial perfusions.
• Perform pre- and post-surgical activities, including cleaning and sterilization of surgical equipment, aliquoting reagents, performing post-op health checks, delivering subcutaneous fluids and/or analgesic, etc.
• Maintain a detailed electronic laboratory notebook, controlled substances log, and sample inventory database, as needed.
• Assist in lab organization, sample inventory management, and supply ordering.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing mouse colony and breeding strategies and familiarity with IACUC protocols and procedures
• 5+ years of experience in an academic or industry laboratory setting performing in vivo work

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Expertise with rodent handling, breeding strategies, colony management and best practices for humanely working with animals
• Expertise with in vivo animal models; and ability to identify unexpected behavioral, phenotypic and/or health issues.
• Experience working with genetic & neurological disease models a plus.
• Strong work ethic and a collaborative, team player
• Ability to multitask and support multiple projects simultaneously

Compensation & Benefits 

ShapeTX offers a robust benefits package, including but not limited to:  

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents 
• 12 paid Holidays plus a one-week winter break at year end.  
• We are proud to offer a competitive paid parental leave benefit for all parents to bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child. We will also partner to create a supportive plan of return.
• An annual employee stipend for employees to use however they choose 
• Flex Paid Time Off program (allowing flexible PTO for vacation, sick leave, and other purposes)  
• Company paid Long Term Disability 
• Employees are eligible to enroll in our Company’s voluntary 401k plan, voluntary Life/AD&D, and Voluntary FSA’s.   

The salary ranges are as follows:

Research Associate: $78,000-$85,000

Senior Research Associate: $80,000-$98,000

The hired candidate's placement within the salary range will be determined through a comprehensive evaluation, including interviews, a review of education, experience, qualifications, and abilities, while ensuring equity with other team members. Our total rewards package may also include an annual target bonus, sign-on bonus, equity grant, and relocation bonus. 

Equal Opportunity Employment  

ShapeTX provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, familial or marital status, religion, age, disability or any other class or status protected by applicable laws.   

We aspire to Shape Life! not only through our science, but also through our commitment to foster an inclusive environment that supports diverse perspectives and experiences.