Scientist I, Neuroimmunology, Target Validation  and Drug Discovery

Valo Health is a human-centric, AI-enabled biotechnology company working to make new drugs for patients faster. The company’s Opal Computational Platform transforms drug discovery and development through a unique combination of real-world data, AI, human translational models and predictive chemistry. 

Our talented team of biologists, chemists and engineers, armed with advanced AI/ML tools, work together to break down traditional R&D silos and accelerate the speed and scale of drug discovery and development. 

Valo is committed to hiring diverse talent, prioritizing growth and development, fostering an inclusive environment, and creating opportunities to bring together a group of different experiences, backgrounds, and voices to work together. We embrace new ways of learning, solve complex problems and welcome diverse perspectives that can help us advance patient-centric innovation. 

Valo is headquartered in Lexington, MA, with additional offices in New York, NY and Tel Aviv, Israel.  To learn more, visit www.valohealth.com.  

Valo is looking for a Scientist I to play a pivotal role in the experimental validation of targets for Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases, that have been identified using Valo’s human-centric Opal computational platform. This role will also support drug discovery program goals including compound mechanism of action.  

The Scientist I will have a passion for translating human data insights into new therapies for complex neurodegenerative diseases.  The Scientist I will work cross-functionally with subject matter experts, computational scientists, and engineers in a team-based environment to bring forward novel and creative solutions to target validation. 

You will bring your experience in immune and inflammatory mechanisms and models to design and execute target validation experiments using human cell assays.  The work you do will build confidence in the translation of candidate drug targets to diseases of interest.  

As a hands-on experimentalist, you will execute at the bench with a high degree of reliability, efficiency, and accuracy and deliver validation data packages, data interpretations, and present results to appropriate stakeholders. 

Your primary areas of responsibility will be:    

• →Generate experimental plans and execute at the bench to enable validation of novel therapeutic targets   

• →Develop and execute human functional cell-based assays in immune and neuroinflammatory cell types to enable characterization of novel drug targets  

• →Perform experiments and generate data in the laboratory with a high degree of reliability, efficiency, and accuracy to support target validation projects.  

• →Work in collaboration with other Valo scientists to progress target validation and drug development aligned with company goals 

• →Generate data with high quality standards and document within an electronic lab notebook  
  
  
• →Stay current on emerging trends and advancements in the field  

• A PhD in Biological Sciences or a related field with 0-2+ years of experience (or MS with 4+ years of experience or a BS with 6+ years of experience)  

• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: Immunology, Autoimmune Disease, Neuroimmunology, Neuroinflammation 

• This position requires experience in immune and inflammatory mechanisms and models.  

• Experience in human in vitro systems including direct cell culture with immune cell types (e.g. PMBCs, blood-based cancer cell lines, iPSCs derived immune cells), molecular biology, and genetic manipulation 

• Experience in assay development with functional readouts (cytokine profiling, inflammatory signaling, flow cytometry, phagocytosis, cell death assay, cellular function) 

• Strong oral and written communication, presentation and interpersonal skills   

• Track record of impactful scientific contributions as demonstrated by high impact publications  
  
  
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams 

• Experience in human in vitro systems including cell culture and functional assays involving neuroinflammatory cells and/or neurons 

• Experience working in in vivo/ex vivo systems  

• Experience in discovery stage preclinical drug discovery programs and with target validation projects  

Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Valo Health currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Valo Health's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.