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Research Associate (Intern)

Position Description

Juvena Therapeutics is seeking a highly self-motivated Research Associate intern with the option to become a full-time employee after 3 months. We are searching for an individual who is passionate about developing a multi-omics workflow that deeply interrogates the disease modifying effects of candidate molecules. The individual will be an integral member of the in vitro discovery team and will work alongside computational biologists and machine learning engineers.

Company Summary

Juvena Therapeutics is on a mission to discover and develop biologics for rare and chronic degenerative diseases by mining the secretomes of human pluripotent stem cells through a machine learning (ML)-enhanced platform. Juvena’s approach integrates proteomics, transcriptomics and imaging with phenotypic human in vitro disease model screening and extensive preclinical validation to mine stem cell secretomes as a rich source of new medicines for chronic and rare diseases. We are advancing leads for muscular dystrophies and muscle atrophy, and validating hits across metabolic and pulmonary diseases with a goal to identify and develop two new assets in new disease indications over the next two years. Since our launch in mid-2018, Juvena has discovered dozens of hits for neuromuscular, skeletal, metabolic and pulmonary diseases, including several muscle regenerative protein therapeutic candidates with potent human in vitro and mice in vivo efficacy. Juvena is advancing a developmental candidate for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, a rare autosomal dominant, progressive muscle-wasting disease, in IND-enabling studies. 

Juvena Therapeutics has secured venture capital, NIH, and CIRM funding to develop our top lead to a clinical-stage investigational new drug, to build our stem cell secretome database, and to leverage our discovery platform to rapidly identify and validate novel protein-based drug candidates for multiple rare and chronic diseases across metabolic and pulmonary therapeutic areas. At Juvena we embrace a diversity of backgrounds, experience and approaches that all combine to lead us to world-class scientific results in an inclusive environment.

Position Location and work permit requirement

640 Galveston Dr. Redwood City, 64063.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US.

Major Responsibilities

• Development and optimization of functional genomics and high-content screening technologies
• Execution of NGS workflows including library prep and sequencing from cells and primary tissues
• Build our expertise in human disease models to expand Juvena’s platform screening capabilities across multiple organ model systems
• Integrate the latest in cell culture techniques and analytical methods to increase throughput and information content in our in vitro screening and pharmacology
• Perform experiments in disease model systems as well as support our projects with cell-based and biochemical assays
• Communicate scientific findings across different functional groups

Position Requirements and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in biology, bioengineering, or a related field
• Experienced with troubleshooting technical challenges related to cell assays

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of undergraduate or industry research experience in cell biology or genomics work
• Experienced in wet lab or dry lab workflows associated with cell culture, imaging, cloning, biochemistry, library preparation, and sequencing
• Experience with high content imaging, automation, or NGS pipelines
• Knowledge of regenerative medicine, adipose, or skeletal muscle biology  
• Experience with programming (Python preferred), especially in image, sequence, or data analysis

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus and stock options
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid vacation and holidays 
• Partial 401K matching

Apply for the Position

Apply to this Job through the following means: 

• LinkedIn job posting
• Website job posting

Please email your CV and Cover Letter to apply@juvenatherapeutics.com with the title of the position as the subject line.

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Program Manager – Discovery, Platform, and G&A

Position Description

Juvena Therapeutics, Inc. is a regenerative medicine biotech startup inviting applicants for Program Manager – Discovery, Platform, and G&A. Applicants should be excited to join a company focused on the discovery and validation of novel disease-modifying biologics that promote tissue regeneration by inducing tissue-specific rejuvenating phenotypes. 

This position (“the PM”) will report to the VP of Program Management and work closely with other Senior Leaders at Juvena daily. The PM will serve as the hands-on project manager of a broad portfolio of Discovery and Platform projects that are core to Juvena’s mission and strategy. Working with Leadership and other stakeholders, the successful candidate will work with the VP Program Management in the planning, execution, and control of integrated KPIs, Research, Discovery (R&D), and G&A program plans, and portfolio management processes that provide a foundation for driving operational objectives. The PM will train, coach, and mentor Staff and Leaders on project management best practices and proactively manage weekly project objectives, identify and analyze dependencies, perform resource planning, develop alternative scenarios based on priority changes and/or pivots on KPIs or objectives, liaise with key stakeholders, and provide regular status updates and recommendations to Leadership on projects within their portfolio.

The position is temporary with the option to convert to a regular full-time position with health benefits. This is the perfect opportunity for someone interested in the exciting and fast-paced environment of a startup company and looking to make a difference in improving people’s lives through science.

*Title commensurate with experience

Company Summary

Juvena Therapeutics is a venture backed biotechnology startup discovering and developing disease-modifying biologics by leveraging their computationally-driven discovery platform to rapidly identify and validate secreted proteins with regenerative potential for multiple rare and chronic diseases.

At Juvena Therapeutics, we are on a mission to discover and develop biologics for rare and chronic degenerative diseases by mapping secreted proteins to unmet medical needs through a machine learning (ML)-enhanced platform. Juvena’s approach integrates proteomics, transcriptomics and imaging with phenotypic human in vitro disease model screening and extensive preclinical validation to mine the therapeutic potential of human stem cell secretomes as a rich source of new medicines that promote tissue regeneration and repair. We are advancing lead drug candidates for muscular dystrophies, atrophy, injury, and osteopathies, and establishing new programs targeting tissue-specific degenerative diseases across multiple therapeutic areas. Since our launch in mid-2018, Juvena has discovered and validated several hits for neuromuscular, skeletal, and metabolic diseases. Juvena’ preclinical programs are supported by funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Juvena is advancing a lead program for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, a rare autosomal dominant, progressive muscle-wasting disease.

At Juvena we embrace a diversity of backgrounds, experience and approaches that all combine to lead us to world-class scientific results in an inclusive environment.

Position Location and work permit requirement

640 Galveston Dr. Redwood City, 94063

Candidate must be legally authorized to work in the US.

Position Requirements and Duties

• Collaborate with the VP of Program Management to develop, promote, and support a foundation of project management best practices across Juvena by training, coaching, and mentoring Staff and Leaders in its adoption.
• Work with Leadership and other stakeholders to lead the establishment of integrated KPIs, R&D program plans, and portfolio management processes that provide a basis for driving operational objectives, deliverables, execution, and timelines.
• Drive program and project management processes and activities such as managing priorities, scope definition, schedules, budgets, risk, quality, and changes while ensuring key company milestones and KPIs are defined and met.
• Manage meetings in alignment with Juvena’s best practices (e.g., agenda and pre-read information provided, meeting outcomes pre-defined, logging of risks, action items, issues, and decisions [RAID log], etc.).
• Develop and manage portfolios for Platform and Discovery through pre-clinical readiness and Corporate G&A projects.
• Monitor ongoing projects for potential risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies with Leadership and the relevant R&D teams. Identify, track, and support resolution efforts for all program-related issues and effectively communicate to relevant internal and external contractor teams via regular and ad hoc status updates.
• For projects within their program, drive resource planning and impact analysis of priority change/pivot scenarios. Manage changes to project scope, ensuring that all impacts and changes are approved through Governance and appropriately communicated.
• Liaise with external partners such as pharmaceutical companies and critical suppliers.
• Support the development of TCPs (Target Candidate Profile) and initial TPPs (Target Product Profile).
• Develop and maintain project/portfolio dashboards, reports, and metrics including GANTT charts and status summaries.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

You may be a great fit if you have the following qualifications:

• Basic Qualifications (required)
  • Undergraduate degree,
  • PMP certification,
  • Strong working knowledge of common project management best practices & tools (RAID logs, Gantt charts, Risk registers, etc.),
  • 2+ years project management experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery, development, or healthcare related R&D,
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary scientific environment that is often required to be adaptive and agile to respond to new discoveries and industry changes,
  • Strong oral and written communication, meeting facilitation, and organizational skills,
  • Ability to motivate, collaborate, and innovate to achieve objectives,
  • Ability to wear many hats with a team-first attitude.
• Bonus Qualifications (preferred)
  • Graduate degree, especially in a scientific or computational area,
  • 4+ years relevant experience in in pharmaceutical drug discovery, development, or healthcare related R&D,
  • Experience with biologics development,
  • Track record of advancing R&D projects through discovery to successful candidate nomination,
  • Experience advancing R&D projects through preclinical to successful IND or CTA regulatory filings,
  • Agile project management certification (CSM, PMI-ACP, etc.),
  • Industry and startup R&D experience.

Compensation

• Hourly rate: $70-$80 per hour, based on experience.

Apply Now

Please email your CV and Cover Letter to apply@juvenatherapeutics.com with “Program Manager – Discovery & Platform” as the subject line.