Research Associate I, Protein Science

Employer:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious and growing global health challenge, affecting approximately 1 in 7 people worldwide. In the absence of effective treatments, patients may progress to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation—placing a significant burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. While recent advances have benefited certain subsets of kidney disease patients, many common forms of CKD still lack effective therapeutic options.

At Borealis Biosciences, Patients are our True North. Borealis was founded on the belief that the convergence of scientific and translational breakthroughs can unlock the potential of RNA therapeutics to address some of the most rare and underserved kidney diseases—and beyond. Borealis builds on the success of Chinook Therapeutics, a kidney disease company with a research site in Vancouver that was acquired by Novartis in 2023 for $3.5 billion. The Borealis team has strong leadership and academic advisors with deep experience and expertise in both kidney disease and RNA therapeutics. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Borealis operates state-of-the-art wet labs equipped for molecular and cellular biology, in vivo pharmacology, chemistry, DMPK, bioinformatics, and analytical sciences.

We are a creative and innovative team that strives for excellence in all we do and has fun along the way. Our core focus is on helping patients and advancing science. For more information on Borealis, check out our sites
https://borealisbio.com & https://www.linkedin.com/company/borealis-biosciences-inc.

We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most innovative talent on our team. We are building a diverse and inclusive workforce – come and be a part of our growth! We strongly encourage candidates with less traditional backgrounds or those who may meet the qualifications in a different way to apply.

Position:

Borealis Biosciences is seeking an enthusiastic and collaborative Research Associate to join the Protein Science team at our laboratories situated in Vancouver, Canada. The successful candidate will design, perform, and analyze in vitro experiments, as well as contribute to go/no-go decisions in platform development and preclinical drug discovery programs. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work in an innovative and collaborative team with deep scientific experience and a focus on patients.

Responsibilities include: 

• Design, perform, and analyze in vitro experiments to characterize the binding of ligands to support the advancement of the platform development plan and preclinical drug discovery programs
• Apply various techniques such as flow cytometry and ELISA to evaluate binding of various ligand formats
• Maintaining cell lines and preparing frozen cell stocks
• Assisting with antibody inventory and shipment
• Develop and perform in vitro oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown assays to support target potency screening
• Assessing protein internalization and trafficking using confocal and/or live cell imaging
• Proactively interrogate research literature and other resources for experimental design and trouble-shooting
• Prepare clear and concise study protocols and technical reports and maintain an accurate electronic lab notebook
• Participate and present data in biology and research team meetings
• Support teammates in daily lab activities
• Understand and work to uphold Borealis’ values, knowing that Patients are our True North:
  • acting with urgency, resilience and creativity to serve patients;
  • being open to new ideas, honest conversations and two-way transparency;
  • staying connected to team members and to science; being kind, humble, and taking risks together

Location:

• This is an on-site lab-based position located in Borealis Bio's Vancouver, BC headquarters. Much of your time  will be spent on conducting wet lab work.

Education, Experience, and Skills: 

• B.Sc. degree in a relevant discipline and hands-on research experience, preferably in a biotech setting
• Extensive experience in cell culture
• Direct experience in flow cytometry and in vitro cell-based assays
• Hands-on experience in qPCR and ELISA
• Experience with confocal imaging, BLI, and Incucyte is a plus
• Strong working knowledge of cellular biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite and Prism GraphPad; experience with Benchling or other electronic notebook is a plus
• Effective time management skills and ability to thrive in a patient-oriented, cross-functional team environment
• Comfortable with adjusting workloads based on changing priorities
• A team player with a passion for science and drug discovery
• Positive attitude and high personal and ethical standards

Compensation: The annual salary range is $67,800 - $83,800 and Borealis Bio provides competitive benefits including RRSP matching, extended medical, dental, vision and a Wellness Spending Account up to $1,800 per year. Actual base salary and title/level will be determined based on the qualifications of the successful candidate.

Borealis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind.  We are committed to fostering an environment where ALL people are welcome and supported. We cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better business results. Creativity and innovation flourish in an environment of openness, inclusion, and mutual respect.