Research Associate I/II, Preclinical Research (Contract)

Role Summary The Research Associate I/II will support Lexeo’s human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte (iPSC-CM) platform, a core in vitro system used to evaluate target engagement, mechanism of action, and potency across discovery and preclinical programs. This hands-on laboratory role will execute established cellular and molecular assays, contribute to assay development, and generate high-quality data. The position reports to the Head of Cardiac Research and receives day-to-day scientific direction from the Preclinical Scientist leading the platform. This is an exciting opportunity to join a cutting-edge drug discovery team advancing new therapies for patients with genetic heart disease while gaining valuable experiences for a future career in biotech and medicine

Generate and validate cellular knockdown and overexpression models Culture and maintain human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and other mammalian cell lines using aseptic technique Perform ddPCR, qPCR, conventional PCR, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and ELISA to support mechanism-of-action and target-validation studies Maintain complete and accurate laboratory records and contribute to the development and revision of assay SOPs Analyze experimental data and prepare concise summaries for Preclinical team

Bachelor’s degree in cell biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related field with 1-3 years of industry and/or academic lab experience Hands-on experience culturing iPSC and differentiation protocols for cardiomyocytes/neurons Hands-on experience with cellular transfection methods Experience with several of the following methods: ddPCR, qPCR, semi-quantitative PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy Strong laboratory skills, rigorous record-keeping, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment Ability to work onsite 5 days/week at our New York City HQ

Prior experience in an in vitro pharmacology group within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry Experience with high-throughput screening platforms, automation and workflows Experience with the Jess automated Western blotting platform Experience with TR-FRET, NanoBiT, FLIPR, or MEA assays Familiarity with engineered heart tissue models and cardiac biology Familiarity with AI-native, agentic lab-in-the-loop workflows connecting experimental design, automated execution, real-time data analysis, and iterative decision-making Demonstrated ability to generate, document, and communicate high-quality experimental results; publications or patents are a plus