Junior Scientist / Scientist I (In Vivo Pharmacology), Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases Full-time

Junior Scientist / Scientist I (In Vivo Pharmacology), Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases

The Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi), hosted by A*STAR, is Singapore's national platform dedicated to advancing RNA-based medicines and revolutionizing drug and vaccine development. NATi's mission is to establish Singapore as a globally recognized hub of excellence in nucleic acid therapeutics research, clinical translation, and commercialization. NATi focuses on key RNA modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA). To drive this vision, NATi is building a biotech-like translational engine focused on asset and technology development spanning discovery to clinical development. We are actively seeking passionate and committed RNA scientists with deep translational expertise to join us in advancing the next generation of RNA-based therapeutics.

Position Overview: We are seeking a Junior Scientist / Scientist I (In Vivo Pharmacology), Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases to execute rodent efficacy, PK/PD, tissue distribution, and early safety studies supporting oligonucleotide-based discovery programs in MASH, obesity, and metabolic disease. This role is highly hands-on and execution-driven, responsible for generating decision-quality in vivo PK/PD and efficacy data under the guidance of senior scientists. The successful candidate will contribute directly to target validation, lead optimization, and go/no-go decisions for siRNA and ASO programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute rodent efficacy studies in lean and DIO mouse models to assess oligonucleotide-mediated target knockdown and phenotypic outcomes.
• Support dose-response, time-course, and repeat-dose studies using subcutaneous (SC) administration (IV/IP as required).
• Perform in-life metabolic and physiological assays, including:
• Oral or intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (oGTT / ipGTT)
• Insulin tolerance tests (ITT) and pyruvate tolerance tests (PTT)
• Metabolic cage studies (energy expenditure, food intake, activity)
• Body weight, body composition, and grip strength assessments
• Monitor animals daily for clinical signs, tolerability, and body weight changes.

PK/PD & Tissue Distribution (Oligonucleotides)

• Execute PK/PD studies to link oligonucleotide exposure with target gene knockdown.
• Collect and process blood and tissues (liver and relevant peripheral tissues) for:
• PK analysis (plasma and tissue exposure)
• PD readouts (RT-qPCR-based target knockdown)
• Support tissue homogenization, sample processing, and shipment for bioanalytical (LC-MS/MS) workflows.
• Assist in compiling exposure-response datasets correlating tissue drug levels with knockdown efficacy.

Molecular & Bioanalytical Support

• Perform or support RT-qPCR analysis for target gene knockdown in liver tissue.
• Maintain accurate sample tracking and metadata for PK, PD, and safety endpoints.
• Collaborate closely with bioanalytical and molecular biology teams.

Early Safety & Tolerability

• Support early safety assessments, including:
• Clinical observations and body weight monitoring
• Terminal blood collection for serum chemistry (ALT, AST, lipids, glucose, BUN, creatinine, albumin)
• Coordinate tissue collection, fixation, and handoff for histopathology.
• Demonstrate working knowledge (awareness level) of liver pathology relevant to MASH:
• Steatosis, inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, fibrosis
• NAS / MASH scoring components (no scoring responsibility)

Animal Ethics, Compliance & Documentation

• Execute studies in compliance with approved IACUC protocols, institutional SOPs, and animal welfare regulations.
• Support preparation of IACUC protocols, amendments, and renewals under supervision.
• Maintain rigorous ELN documentation, raw data traceability, and accurate study records.
• Work closely with veterinarians and animal facility staff to ensure compliant and humane study execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Pharmacology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Toxicology, or a related life science discipline.
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience.
• Hands-on rodent in vivo experience, including animal handling, subcutaneous dosing (mandatory), and blood and tissue collection; IV/IP/PO dosing experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience executing in vivo efficacy and PK/PD studies, with exposure to oligonucleotide pharmacology (siRNA/ASO) and tissue distribution workflows.
• Basic molecular biology exposure, including RT-qPCR for gene expression or target knockdown analysis.
• Strong execution and compliance mindset, with high attention to data integrity, ability to manage multiple parallel studies, and comfort working in SOP-driven, regulated research environments.