Associate Scientist, Transplant Research

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The job details are as follows:

Who We Are

We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation. Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs.

United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR) seeks to travel down the corridors of indifference to develop treatments for rare, deadly diseases. We were founded in 1996 by a family seeking a cure for their daughter’s pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Today, we have six FDA-approved therapies that treat PAH, pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer. Our near-term pipeline seeks to develop additional therapies for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

The cure for end-stage life-threatening diseases like PAH, PH-ILD, PF, and many others is an organ transplant, but only a small percentage of donated organs are available to address the vast need. For this reason, we are working to create manufactured organs to address the shortage of kidneys, hearts, lungs, and livers available for transplant. We believe an unlimited supply of tolerable, transplantable organs will eliminate the transplant waiting list and cure end-stage organ diseases for which transplant is not currently an option.

How you’ll contribute

Our Transplant Research Facility team is looking for the one missing piece – the one person that is able to create links between transplant surgery, functional and biochemical analyses, that helps create hypotheses and strategies to improve the outcomes of our engineered organs. The Associate Scientist will record, collect and analyze experimental data that is obtained during the testing of various engineered organ constructs. The experiments will include surgical organ transplantations in large animal models as well as bench-top experiments. This position will help to efficiently and rapidly provide analyses and experimental results that will allow to further improve the function and performance of our engineered organs. You are driven to look at bio-functional details, interested in the physiological environment of transplanted organs and like to widen your horizon, understanding and knowledge by screening the literature and publications. In addition, you can see yourself becoming part of an experienced, thriving and skilled research team with surgeons, animal and veterinary technicians? Maybe this is the position that you are looking for! Let’s talk!

For this role you will need

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in biology, cell or molecular biology, or biomedical sciences, or a related discipline

5+ years of experience working in a biology, cell biology, or other life-sciences laboratory setting with a Bachelor's Degree or

3+ years of experience working in a biology, cell biology, or other life-sciences laboratory setting with a Master's Degree

3+ years of experience summarizing, analyzing and presenting scientific data

3+ years of experience with operation of basic laboratory equipment including centrifuge, balance, pipettes, and spectrophotometer

3+ years of experience working with fluid handling or other automated systems (e.g. metabolic or blood analyzers, flow cytometry, dispensing systems, HPLC, perfusion systems (ECMO, dialysis, etc))

Ability to design, plan and perform pre-, intra- and post-operative laboratory testing/assays to determine and/or confirm function of the tested organs and constructs, and the immune response in the animal models. This may include regular blood tests (e.g. CBC, biochemistry, blood gas), targeted biochemical analyses (e.g. coagulation or complement), immunosuppressant levels, and other specific testing according to designated protocols.

Must not have contact or interaction with pigs outside of the research facility

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree in biology, cell or molecular biology, or biomedical sciences, or a related discipline or

PhD degree in a biology, cell biology, or other life-sciences laboratory setting with a PhD

3+ years of experience with independent performance of biochemical or other analytical assays on blood, tissues, or cells

3+ years of experience summarizing and analyzing data acquired from laboratory equipment and systems

Job Location

This position is located onsite at our Blacksburg, VA office. Relocation assistance may be available.

At United Therapeutics, our mission and vision are one. We use our enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence to innovate for the unmet medical needs of our patients and to benefit our other stakeholders. We are bold and unconventional. We have fun, we do good.

Eligible employees may participate in the Company’s comprehensive benefits suite of programs, including medical / dental / vision / prescription coverage, employee wellness resources, savings plans (401k and ESPP), paid time off & paid parental leave benefits, disability benefits, and more. For additional information on Company benefits, please visit

United Therapeutics Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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