Senior Research Associate

Hillstar Bio, is a precision immunology company that recently completed a sizable Series A financing with a syndicate of blue-chip investors. Our passionate team of drug developers is based in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood.

Hillstar is advancing a portfolio of programs against autoimmune diseases with unmet or underserved medical needs. Its lead program is an antibody designed to selectively target a root cause of Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD) and other autoimmune diseases. CAD is a chronic, rare (incidence 15/million) but debilitating condition with high morbidity (anemia, fatigue, cold-induced circulatory symptoms). Existing treatment options for CAD have limited effectiveness, carry considerable safety risks, and fail to address key disease symptoms in a large proportion of patients, leading to significant chronic morbidity and excess mortality. By bringing this new precision modality to patients, Hillstar aims to improve on safety and efficacy, as well as durability of response, setting a new gold standard for the management of CAD, and other serious autoimmune conditions with a common biological origin.

Job Description

Join Hillstar Bio as a Senior Research Associate focused on the execution of immunology-related in vitro experiments.

This pivotal role offers the opportunity to shape our company’s scientific strategy and onsite culture, make a meaningful impact on patient care, and contribute to the growth of a pioneering organization. We seek a passionate, hands-on scientist with a collaborative spirit, ready to thrive in a dynamic, close-knit team environment.

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyze biochemical and biological assays (e.g., flow cytometry, ELISA, qPCR, reporter assays)
• Carry out tissue culture of immortalized and primary human cells, including transfection of cells
• Support ordering of reagents and lab maintenance
• Assist with coordination of high value patient and tissue samples from external academic collaborators, vendors, CROs
• Diligently record experimental details in electronic lab notebook and support authoring of scientific publications, technical reports for regulatory filings
• Play a key role in building and fostering Hillstar’s culture.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in immunology, cell biology, or related wetlab research, prior experience with autoimmune diseases is a plus.
• Demonstrated competence in carrying out tissue culture of mammalian cells with high attention to detail
• Prior experience executing and optimizing cell-based assays (e.g., flow cytometry, ELISA, qPCR, reporter assays)
• Demonstrated ability to summarize experiments and key findings in electronic lab notebook, reports, and slides.
• Self-motivated, collaborative, excellent time management, and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

Hillstar Bio offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes unlimited vacation and market-leading parental leave.

Additional Information

This is a full-time position located in our Boston, MA office. Hillstar is committed to creating a diverse work culture and we are seeking individuals of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.