Translational (Veterinary) Scientist

Loyal is an early stage company developing drugs to help companion dogs live longer, healthier lives. We apply innovative approaches to tackling aging as a disease that can be slowed and improved with medicines.

Loyal is hiring a Translational (Veterinary) Scientist. You’ll join our R&D: Veterinary Translational Medicine team to execute companion animal studies to adapt and validate aging biomarkers and endpoints and advance our canine development pipelines. The candidate will work with the broader Research and Development team to design, initiate, and oversee completion of field studies in collaboration with veterinary teams and investigators across academia, industry, and private practice. Focus will be on the design and development of protocols for proof of concept, pilot clinical studies that allow for the translation of candidate molecules bridging preclinical discovery and development to pivotal efficacy studies required for regulatory approval. Applicants should have broad and/or deep technical experience with in vivo study design (preferably with behavioral, physiological, molecular, and/or clinically relevant endpoints), strategic biomarker selection, and fundamental understanding of conducting research in the (veterinary) clinical setting.

Loyal is an early-stage company, which means there are no stringent hierarchies, silos or bureaucracy. While you will be ultimately responsible for executing key research projects, you will have ample opportunity to work with, learn from, and influence other sides of the company.

Loyal is founded and led by a first-gen, female CEO – we encourage and look forward to diverse applicants.

Your daily work may include:

• • Exercising your scientific expertise and knowledge to help design, analyze, interpret, and communicate results for proof of concept, canine field studies and to validate aging biomarkers and endpoints in the context of drug discovery and development
  • Performing scientific literature reviews and research to identify and critically evaluate canine healthspan translational tools and platforms
  • Initiating, vetting, maintaining, and passing off collaborative relationships with veterinary investigators and scientific experts across academia and industry to assist in biomarker and endpoint validation
  • Collaborating with Research and Clinical Operations teams on logistical planning for study set-up, management, and close out procedures
  • Providing technical and strategic input to support ongoing projects for key go/no-go decisions
  • Working in close collaboration with R&D, Clinical Operations, and Regulatory teams to provide feedback on preclinical study efforts, contribute to the preparation of regulatory submissions, and communicate results in a timely manner
  • Working in close collaboration with the Computational Biology team to align and advance on cross-functional objectives
  • Clearly communicating and discussing studies with internal, cross-functional team members and external scientific consultants and advisors

Education and Qualifications

• • MSc, PhD or equivalent experience in a STEM field (comparative biomedical sciences, metabolic biology, physiology, neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, analytical sciences, etc). DVM training is a plus.
  • Strong understanding of in vivo study design, execution and data analysis
  • Strong understanding of strengths and challenges in veterinary clinical research
  • High level understanding of applying biomarker assays, molecular diagnostics, and emergent technologies in a veterinary clinical research setting
  • Adaptability, creativity, and high-performer in risk-assessment and strategic thinking
  • Detailed eye for logistics and problem solving
  • Demonstrate scientific expertise and understanding of translational research
  • Comfortable taking initiative and working cooperatively in a fast-paced startup environment with a dynamic team
  • Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully, with strong interpersonal skills needed to align stakeholders and achieve outcomes
  • Previous experience working with or in veterinary clinical settings highly desirable

How You Work & Think

• • You demonstrate exceptional integrity and excellent personal organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • You demonstrate the highest standards for scientific quality and rigor.
  • You meet or beat rapid deadlines and you work well under pressure.
  • You can communicate scientific topics and challenges clearly and logically.
  • You demonstrate effective empathy in facilitating collaboration internally and externally
  • You are detail oriented, thrive in the minutia, responsive, and enjoy high-responsibility environments
  • You are able to give and receive feedback constructively, you encourage your team during challenges, and celebrate wins whenever possible.
  • You show a high degree of compassion, curiosity, and personal drive.

Logistics

• • Full-time position based in San Francisco, CA - our offices are on Market Street near Noe Valley (Remote work is acceptable)
  • Management of key ongoing experiments conducted with external research organizations and partners (i.e. no physical lab-based responsibilities)
  • Competitive salary depending on your background & company shares
  • Full coverage health/dental/vision; budget for gym membership
  • Monthly budget for books, education, and skills-based learning for personal and professional growth
  • Monthly budget for food delivery and self care
  • Start ASAP

The Fundamentality of Health | Good health is critical to every other human (and animal!) experience. We believe health is a fundamental right and are dedicating our lives to maximizing health and developing better medicines for the worst diseases.

Truth Seeking & Feedback Loops | Uniquely in biology, there is a predetermined truth of whether a specific drug will work or not — we just have to catch up with biology! We seek out this truth and do not shy away from inconvenient truths. This holds for personal development too: we are always searching for feedback loops and embody a perpetual growth mindset.

Morality & Empathy | We are developing medicines that may one day be given to a living animal, medicines that if designed badly could hurt that animal instead of help. This is a huge responsibility and should be respected as such. Our work needs to adhere to the strictest moral code and always integrate empathy for the patient.

Transparency | We believe full transparency in thoughts, opinions, intentions, and actions (both good ones and mistakes) is a better way to build a business and work together.

Kindness | Great business(wo)men do not need to be ruthless — you can execute excellently with kindness.

Dog gifs | We love them.