Vivo Scientist; Immuno Oncology Equity

Company

FIG (Factor Induced Gene) Therapeutics, Inc. is a preclinical stage biotech company developing the Symphony™ platform, a proprietary intratumorally-delivered gene immunotherapy that hijacks tumor cells to secrete a multimodal cocktail of immunomodulatory proteins that inhibit or stimulate more targets than any therapy developed before.

We are hiring a hands‑on In‑Vivo Scientist to lead and execute the majority of our pre‑IND in vitro and in vivo work.
This individual must already have expertise in fully independently executing Patient‑Derived Xenograft (PDX) models within humanized mice without additional training
. This is an individual who understands the sacrifices of an early stage biotech company and has the drive to get the ground going from day one as the first non‑founder employee. Exceptional candidates who share in the vision may advance to co‑founder.

In this role, you will independently design, run, document, and present assays and preclinical studies that support IND filing and early CRO/GLP programs. The position is onsite in Valhalla, NY (5 days/week with occasional weekends). You will be working closely with and directly reporting to the founder and CEO.

The candidate must have a PhD in a related field (i.e. immunology or oncology) with a proven track record in solid tumor immunotherapy research in humanized CD34+ mouse models (CDX and PDX), with preference for prostate cancer work.
Ideal candidates will also have experience with intratumoral delivery.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. Employment offers are contingent on satisfactory completion of post‑offer background checks and any legally required pre‑employment screenings. Where applicable, FIG Therapeutics will comply with the Fair Chance Act, New York Clean Slate Act, and other relevant laws regarding criminal history and background checks; criminal‑history inquiries or checks will be conducted only after a conditional offer as required by law.

Pre‑employment testing for cannabis/THC will be performed only where legally permitted or required (for example, federal/DOT or other safety‑sensitive exemptions).

• Direct experience with PDX tumor models (prostate)
• Intratumoral injection and in vivo transfection optimization
• Surgical tumor resection/necropsy with downstream tissue processing/analysis (IHC/IF and flow cytometry)
• Cell culture and transfection/transduction of primary tumor cells, T cells, and cancer cell lines
• Development of cancer and immune cell co‑culture assays
• Establishment of 3D organoid models of solid tumor TME
• Assay development for multicolor flow cytometry panels, ELISA, Luminex, ELISPOT, RT‑qPCR, and digital PCR (dPCR)
• Proven ability to independently design experiments, troubleshoot complex failures, and author SOPs and study reports used to inform CRO/IND decisions
• Experience coordinating with CROs on GLP‑style biodistribution/toxicity/TK studies and contributing to study plans
• Previous track record of IND support (authoring preclinical sections) and interactions with regulatory consultants.

• Hands‑on generation of CD34⁺ humanized mice
• Expertise in rational design of lipid nanoparticles for plasmid DNA delivery
• Viral vector (adenovirus and HSV), RNA, and polycistronic DNA plasmid design

• Design, optimize, and run in‑vitro potency & functional assays for multi‑domain immune effectors
• Develop and validate quantitative assays: RT‑qPCR, digital PCR (dPCR), ELISA, Luminex multiplex cytokine panels, ELISPOT, Western blot.
• Build, optimize and analyze multicolor flow cytometry panels (immunophenotyping, T‑cell activation, exhaustion markers, Treg analysis) and perform associated data analysis (Flow Jo/Cytobank/others).
• Run in‑vitro immune function assays: PBMC cytotoxicity, NK/ADCC, DC activation, antigen‑presentation readouts.
• Establish and run TME models: 2D, 3D spheroids/organoids, tumor:immune co‑cultures; provide assay qualification (precision, accuracy, dynamic range).
• Lead in vivo programs: generation and management of CD34⁺…