Job Description

Y-Trap is seeking a highly motivated and fast-moving [Senior] Scientist – Immunology , who will be responsible for design and hands-on execution of in vitro and murine  in vivo   experiments to advance the discovery and development of multifunctional fusion proteins.



About us: Y-Trap is a startup in South San Francisco developing novel multi-specific therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy. While current immunotherapies aim to activate and expand T cells by blocking immune checkpoints, they do not correct the immunosuppressive & tumor-promoting phenotypes of immune cells that dominate in the tumor. Y-Trap has utilized its AI-driven engineering platform to develop a portfolio of multi-specific fusion proteins designed to counteract the determinants of these tumor-promoting immune cell phenotypes. Y-Trap is currently advancing its lead programs into the clinic.



In this role, you will:

• Design, execute, and interpret in vitro immunological assays to characterize therapeutic activity and investigate mechanism of action.
• Independently execute mouse tumor efficacy and PK/PD studies, monitoring tumor growth, treatment response, and animal health.
• Characterize immune cells from tumors and other tissues, and integrate in vitro and in vivo findings to guide therapeutic development.
• Manage our shared space in a contract vivarium, including ordering mice/reagents and liaising with vivarium staff.

We are seeking an exceptional candidate with the following qualifications:

• Strong oncology in vivo expertise. You have several years of hands-on mouse work and are proficient in tumor implantation, tumor measurement, drug administration (i.p., i.v.), blood collection, and necropsy.
• Strong expertise in a variety of immunological assays, cell culture and immune cell characterization. You love being in the lab and are great at flow cytometry. You're also comfortable talking about different immune populations, digging into the literature to understand a surprising result, and bringing a new assay online.
• Self-driven and resourceful. You're excited to learn new skills when needed, with a mentality to do whatever it takes to get the job done in a small team with a lot of autonomy.
• You may have a PhD in immunology (or a related field), or have gained equivalent experience working in industry. You're excited to work hands-on both at the bench and in the vivarium.

Ideally, you may also have experience with one or more of the following:

• Orthotopic tumor implantation and intrasplenic tumor cell inoculation.
• Humanized mouse models using huPBMCs and/or huCD34+ HSCs.
• i n vivo and  ex vivo models of inflammation or autoimmune disease.
• ex vivo culture of immunocompetent tumor fragments / organotypic slices / organoids

Y-Trap is based in South San Francisco, CA and offers competitive salary, benefits, and stock options. This is not an entry-level position, but candidates of varying seniority are encouraged to apply. Seniority and compensation will be commensurate to experience.

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