Scientist – Histology & IHC

Job description:

Pathobiology Contractor

Location: Foster City, CA

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Contract Duration: 18 months with potential 6-month extension

Conversion: No current headcount for conversion; future opportunities may become available based on business needs

Position Overview

We are seeking a Pathobiology Contractor to support drug discovery and development within Research. The successful candidate will join the Pathobiology Group and work closely with internal research teams and external collaborators to identify and validate novel drug targets across oncology, fibrosis, virology, and inflammation.

This position is highly focused on immunohistochemistry (IHC), tissue-based assays, histology, tissue preparation, and image analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and validate IHC and CISH assays and antibody reagents.
• Perform hands-on IHC and histological techniques.
• Develop and implement tissue-based assays supporting drug discovery and development.
• Handle and prepare human and animal tissue, including FFPE samples.
• Investigate drug efficacy, mechanism of action, disease biology, and therapeutic targets using tissue-based endpoints.
• Independently plan, execute, and troubleshoot experiments.
• Develop SOPs and implement process improvements for IHC and other histological workflows.
• Manage multiple research projects and priorities under tight timelines.
• Organize, document, and analyze experimental data.
• Collaborate with internal research groups, cross-functional teams, CROs, and external collaborators.
• Support tissue collections, laboratory infrastructure, technology development, and novel methodologies.
• Present research findings and recommendations to senior scientific staff.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies that may improve research throughput or understanding of disease mechanisms.

Required Qualifications

• BS degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, OR
• MS degree with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with IHC and other histological techniques.
• Experience with IHC method development, optimization, and/or validation.
• Experience with human and/or animal tissue preparation and handling.
• Strong experience with FFPE tissue and tissue-based assays.
• Background in Biology, Pathobiology, Molecular Biology, Histology, or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting drug discovery and/or target identification and validation.
• Strong experimental design and independent troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with multiplex IHC.
• Experience with CISH.
• Experience with image scanning and/or image analysis.
• Experience in oncology, fibrosis, virology, or inflammation.
• Experience working with CROs or external research partners.
• Experience implementing new technologies or improving laboratory processes.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for candidates with strong hands-on experience in:

IHC + FFPE + Tissue Handling + Histology + Tissue-Based Assays + Oncology/Drug Discovery

Candidates with experience in IHC method development, antibody optimization/validation, tissue imaging, biomarker research, and target validation are highly encouraged to apply.