{"id":3973666,"url":"https://alion.io/job/morphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays","title":"Associate Scientist - Cell-Based Assays","company":{"id":2635,"name":"MorphoSys","domain":"morphosys.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/morphosys","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"WillHire","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Diego, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":40,"max":45,"currency":"USD","period":"hour","gross":null,"usd_annual":90000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Cell Culture","optional":false},{"name":"CRISPR","optional":false},{"name":"GraphPad Prism","optional":false},{"name":"qPCR","optional":false},{"name":"Western Blot","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-09T17:12:38Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-09","last_verified_at":"2026-11-13T04:08:02Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"~~~This role is offered through [MSP/supplier/third party provider], who, if selected, will be your employer. If your services are retained, you will be assigned to provide services to Novartis as the end client. This is not an offer of employment with Novartis. If you are selected for this Temporary/External opportunity, you will not be an employee of Novartis and will not be eligible for any Novartis employee benefits or incentives. ~~~\nNovartis touches the lives of a tenth of the world’s population. Every role here, regardless of contract type, makes an impact on human life!\nNovartis US partners with external managed service provider Magnit Global to offer engaging temporary contractor opportunities like this, to those who are looking for flexibility in their career while looking to gain new skills and experiences providing services to an inclusive global medicines company. Click here to learn more about Magnit www.magnitglobal.com\nReady to work with/through Magnit at Novartis? Please read on...\nAssociate Scientist - Cell-Based Assays\nWe are seeking a highly motivated research scientist to join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team focused on discovering and advancing innovative therapies for cancer patients. The successful candidate will design and execute rigorous experiments, generate decision-enabling data, and translate findings into testable hypotheses. This role offers the opportunity to work across discovery disciplines and contribute directly to oncology programs from target validation to drug discovery. This is a temporary position expected to last approximately six months. The work covers cellular degradation and recruitment assays, protein turnover studies, and follow-up of newly identified hits and resynthesized compounds.\nMajor accountabilities:\nRun cell-based experiments for a protein degrader program and related induced proximity projects, using established workflows and fit-for-purpose assay development.\nPlan and run experiments with input from senior scientists or the project lead. Apply sound judgment on assay setup, controls and troubleshooting, and bring questions or unexpected results to the team early.\nMaintain mammalian cell culture, including routine passaging, plating, compound treatment and sample preparation. Cell types include cancer lines, including engineered knock-in and knockout lines, and reporter lines.\nRun HiBiT/LgBiT (NanoLuc) assays for endogenous protein degradation, in lytic endpoint and live-cell kinetic formats.\nRun live-cell NanoBiT assays that measure E3 ligase recruitment to the target.\nSupport protein turnover studies, including cycloheximide chase and washout experiments. Fit decay and recovery curves to estimate half-life and resynthesis rate.\nConfirm degradation of the target and selected off-targets with in-cell Western, Western blot and WES/Simple Western. Follow up hits from proteomics and screening this way.\nSupport qPCR workflows, including RNA isolation, reverse transcription, assay setup, data analysis and interpretation. Measure target genes as a pharmacodynamic readout.\nTest newly synthesized and resynthesized compounds in dose-response format. Confirm potency and efficacy, and turn results around quickly so chemistry can make decisions.\nApply appropriate controls, normalization and curve-fitting methods. Report DC50, Dmax, recruitment potency and fit-quality metrics.\nAnalyze, interpret and present results to the lab, department and project teams.\nKeep accurate, timely records in the electronic lab notebook and other required systems. Documentation must be clear enough for a smooth handover at the end of the assignment.\nTroubleshoot routine experimental and assay issues, and suggest improvements where you see them.\nPrioritize work against project timelines.\nBuild technical knowledge through literature reading, department activities and scientific discussion.\nAssist colleagues with familiar techniques when needed.\nWork with project team members and cross-functional partners (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, proteomics, structural biology).\nQualifications:\nBS or MS in cell biology, biochemistry, chemical biology, cancer biology, pharmacology or a related field.\n2+ years of relevant lab experience with a BS, or 0-2 years with an MS. Experience can come from industry, academia, or internships/co-ops.\nHands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and plate-based cell assays.\nExperience with at least two of: in-cell Western, Western blot/WES/Simple Western, qPCR, luminescence-based reporter or proximity assays.\nExperience analyzing dose-response data (e.g., GraphPad Prism).\nStrong organization, documentation and communication skills. Able to learn quickly and work well in a short-term role.\nPreferred:\nExperience with targeted protein degradation, molecular glues or PROTACs.\nExperience with NanoLuc/HiBiT/NanoBiT assays or live-cell kinetic luminescence.\nExperience with cancer cell line models.\nFamiliarity with CRISPR engineering.\nExperience with Spotfire or similar data visualization tools.\nSkills:\nCell-based assays · Mammalian cell culture · Targeted protein degradation / induced proximity · HiBiT/NanoBiT proximity assays · In-cell Western · Western blot / WES / Simple Western · qPCR and gene expression analysis · Protein quantitation · Dose-response analysis · Cellular pharmacology · Assay development and troubleshooting · Experimental design · Data analysis (GraphPad Prism, Spotfire) · Electronic lab notebook · Communication and collaboration · Time management\nLocation: San Diego, CA (Onsite)\nPay Rate: $40 - $45/hour W-2 Only (based on Education/Experience)\nContract: 6-month (Possible Contract to hire)\nHealth, dental, vision, 401k (provided minimum eligibility hours are met)\nWhy Novartis:\nHelping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?\nEEO Statement:\nThe Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.\nAccommodation:\nIf you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Magnit at .","description_format":"text","description_chars":6709,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Drug Discovery","Oncology Therapeutics"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-09T17:12:38Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"adverts_offering_sponsorship_24m":0,"sanctioned_now":false,"evidence":"green card filings: 1","filings_12m":0,"filings_prev_12m":2,"green_card_filings_12m":1,"median_offered_wage_usd":157500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-12T07:36:15+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":10,"reasons":["conf:1","win:early","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-11-12T10:38:37Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":90000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/morphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/morphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-13T04:19:38Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":9154,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-14T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2635},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2635"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fmorphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"free","price":{"credits":0,"usd":0},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fmorphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fmorphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/morphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fmorphosys-associate-scientist-cell-based-assays"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3973666}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"morphosys.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3973666},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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