Scientist I/II, In Vivo Pharmacology

Lexeo Therapeutics is seeking an in vivo pharmacologist to build rodent models of cardiac disease and use them to de-risk targets, screen therapeutic candidates, and advance its discovery pipeline. The role designs, performs, or manages rodent studies from target validation through hit identification and collaborates with In Vitro Pharmacology, Modality Engineering, and Translational Sciences to select and advance molecules.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute in vivo studies that de-risk novel targets, using genetic knockdown/overexpression and tool molecules to test target–phenotype links
• Outsource or internally establish rodent cardiac disease models, including transgenic lines and surgical models such as TAC and MI
• Run therapeutic screening studies that rank candidates on efficacy, dose-response, durability, and identify hit molecules for advancement
• Dose by multiple routes (IV, IP, SC, IM, PO, retro-orbital) and by osmotic minipump across longitudinal studies
• Lead study takedowns: necropsy, blood and tissue collection, and processing for histology, molecular, and ex vivo endpoints, including Langendorff cardiac dissociation
• Partner with Translational Sciences to establish bioanalytical methods for biodistribution and target engagement in rodent tissues, and align on models with clinical endpoints/biomarkers
• Analyze, interpret, and present data to project teams; keep study records in the ELN in line with IACUC and animal welfare standards
• Manage study logistics, manage budgets, flag capacity or timeline risks early, and ideate novel methods for pharmacology and physiology

Preferred

• Industry experience in a small, fast-paced biotech is highly preferred
• Working knowledge of qPCR/ddPCR for vector/mRNA, ELISA/LC-MS for ASO, RNAscope/IHC for tissue localization, WB/ ELISA/MSD for protein detection
• Hands-on echocardiography in mice and rats (e.g., Vevo)
• ECG and blood pressure telemetry implantation and analysis in mice and rats (e.g., Ponemah)
• Cardiac surgical models (TAC, MI) and invasive hemodynamics (PV-loop)
• Demonstrated experience with models of neurodegenerative disease, particularly ataxia or cerebellar disorders, including execution and interpretation of rotarod, gait analysis, balance beam, grip strength, and longitudinal behavioral studies
• In vivo experience working with and advancing AAV or oligonucleotide therapeutics
• Experience selecting and evaluating CROs to perform animal studies
• AALAS certification or equivalent
• Small biotech industry experience
• qPCR
• ddPCR
• ELISA
• LC-MS
• RNAscope
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Western blotting
• MSD protein assays
• Rodent echocardiography
• Vevo echocardiography
• telemetry implantation
• Blood pressure telemetry implantation
• Ponemah telemetry analysis
• Cardiac surgical models
• Transverse aortic constriction (TAC)
• Myocardial infarction models
• Invasive hemodynamics
• PV-loop analysis
• Neurodegenerative disease models
• Ataxia models
• Cerebellar disorder models
• Rotarod testing
• Gait analysis
• Balance beam testing
• Grip strength testing
• Longitudinal behavioral studies
• vivo AAV therapeutics
• Oligonucleotide therapeutics
• CRO selection
• AALAS certification
• Adaptability in fast-paced settings

Company

• Clinical-stage genetic medicines for cardiovascular and APOE4-associated Alzheimer's disease
• New York, New York, USA
• https://www.lexeotx.com/
• Founded in 2018
• 51-200 employees

Qualifications

• PhD in physiology, pharmacology, cardiovascular biology, or a related field with 0–3 years of postdoctoral or industry experience; or MS with 5+ years of industry experience
• Hands-on rodent experience: handling, multi-route dosing, blood collection, survival surgery, and necropsy
• Track record using rodent disease models for target validation or efficacy testing of molecules
• Proven understanding of power analyses, methods of randomizing animal models and appropriate uses of statistical methods
• Strong data analysis skills (e.g., GraphPad) and clear written and verbal communication
• Organized and independent; able to run several longitudinal studies at once within a collaborative team
• Industry experience in a small, fast-paced biotech is highly preferred
• Working knowledge of qPCR/ddPCR for vector/mRNA, ELISA/LC-MS for ASO, RNAscope/IHC for tissue localization, WB/ ELISA/MSD for protein detection
• Hands-on echocardiography in mice and rats (e.g., Vevo)
• ECG and blood pressure telemetry implantation and analysis in mice and rats (e.g., Ponemah)
• Cardiac surgical models (TAC, MI) and invasive hemodynamics (PV-loop)
• Demonstrated experience with models of neurodegenerative disease, particularly ataxia or cerebellar disorders, including execution and interpretation of rotarod, gait analysis, balance beam, grip strength, and longitudinal behavioral studies
• In vivo experience working with and advancing AAV or oligonucleotide therapeutics
• Experience selecting and evaluating CROs to perform animal studies
• AALAS certification or equivalent

Required skills

• AALAS certification, AAV and oligonucleotide therapeutics, And blood pressure telemetry, Cardiac surgical models MI and PV-loop hemodynamics, Cardiac surgical models TAC and PV-loop hemodynamics, ELISA, LC-MS, Western blot, and MSD, GraphPad, Mouse and rat echocardiography, QPCR and ddPCR, RNAscope and immunohistochemistry (IHC), Statistical methods, power analysis, and randomization

Preferred skills

• $554M, (1), (2), *2026, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025-05-27, 2025-06-24, 2025-10-16, 40, AALAS certification or equivalent, Balyasny Asset Management, Data Powered by, Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship, Engineering and Development, Frazier Life Sciences,Janus Henderson Investors, H1B Sponsorship, Hands-on echocardiography in mice and rats (e.g., Vevo), Key Investors, Management and Executive, New York, New York, USA, Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund,venBio Partners, Post Ipo Equity· $154M, Post Ipo Equity· $40M, Public Company, Represents job field similar to this job, Total Funding, Trends of Total Sponsorships, https://www.lexeotx.com