Senior Research Associate, Histology

Arbor Biotechnologies, a clinical stage, next-generation gene editing company based in Cambridge, MA, is advancing a portfolio of first-in-class genomic medicines addressing serious diseases for which there are no existing functional cures, with a CNS pipeline initially prioritizing multiple ALS targets and a co-developed, clinical program, ABO-101, for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1. The company’s unique breadth of gene editing technologies goes beyond the limitations of early editing approaches to unlock access to new gene targets and expand the therapeutic reach of genomic medicines. For more information, please visit: arbor.bio.

You're driven by purpose and curious by nature. You take ownership, speak up, and stay steady when things get hard. You'd rather the team win than get the credit. If that sounds like you, keep reading.

Before any of our CNS gene editing programs can move toward the clinic, we need to see in tissue where an editor went, whether it reached its target, and what it did there. This role produces that evidence. You’ll run and quantify the histology assays on rodent and non-human primate tissue that our program teams use to decide what moves forward. 

This role reports to the Senior Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology. It is on-site in Cambridge, typically 4-5 days per week.

• Develop, optimize, and run IHC, IF, and ISH/RNAscope assays on preclinical CNS tissue.
• Process, stain, and image CNS tissue from rodent and non-human primate studies.
• Quantify assay readouts in image analysis software such as HALO, QuPath, or ImageJ/Fiji.
• Generate the histology data used to assess biodistribution, target engagement, pharmacodynamic activity, editing outcomes, and safety.
• Analyze and graph results in GraphPad Prism and summarize them clearly for project scientists.
• Plan histology endpoints and tissue readouts for in vivo studies with the study lead.
• Present results in group meetings and cross-functional study discussions.
• Troubleshoot assays, improve workflows, and keep experimental records and sample tracking accurate.

• →Bachelor’s degree in biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, or a related field with 3+ years of industry experience, or a master’s degree with 1+ year.
• →Has developed, optimized, and run IHC, IF, or ISH/RNAscope assays; automated staining platform experience preferred.
• →Has worked with CNS tissue from rodent models; non-human primate tissue experience preferred.
• →Has performed quantitative image analysis of CNS histology or ISH readouts in HALO, QuPath, ImageJ/Fiji, or a comparable tool.
• →Has kept detailed experimental records and presented data to a project team.
• →Has worked on gene therapy, gene editing, AAV, or CNS programs (preferred).

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $85,000–$95,000. Actual pay depends on relevant experience, skills, education, internal equity, and other job-related factors.

Every employee is eligible for a bonus and new hire equity. We pay about 90% of medical, dental, and vision premiums and fund the full deductible on our HSA plan. You'll also get 12 weeks of parental leave at full pay, paid parking or transit, a 401(k) match, and discretionary time off.

Arbor is an equal opportunity employer. We're committed to a hiring process and a workplace free of bias and discrimination, and we welcome candidates of every background.