IBRI is poised to transform life sciences—and for millions of people, even life itself.

The Opportunity:

The Staff Scientist will support and advance research programs within Enabling Technologies, contributing to assay development, disease modeling, and drug discovery efforts that align with current and emerging institutional priorities. The role will support multiple disease areas, including pediatric cancers (such as osteosarcoma and NF1/NF2 driven malignancies like schwannoma), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease), metabolic disorders, and other therapeutic areas as institute initiatives evolve. This role combines advanced iPSC-based modeling with non–iPSC experimental platforms, providing broad technical support across discovery and translational research initiatives.

The successful candidate will lead and execute hands-on laboratory research, including the development, optimization, and validation of cell-based and molecular assays for target validation, phenotypic screening, and therapeutic evaluation. In addition to iPSC-derived systems, the role will involve working with established cancer cell lines, primary cell lines (including patient derived), and other relevant model systems to support drug discovery.

This position requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across Enabling Technologies and disease-focused research teams. The Staff Scientist will contribute to experimental design, data analysis, and workflow optimization while mentoring junior staff and supporting milestone-driven research environment.

Responsibilities:

Accountability

• Design, execute, and optimize cell-based experiments supporting assay development, disease modeling, and drug discovery using iPSC-based and non-iPSC platforms.

• Develop, validate, and maintain robust cellular and molecular assays generating reproducible, high-quality data.

• Support and advance Enabling Technology platforms aligned with evolving institutional research priorities.

• Manage multiple projects and experimental timelines in a fast-paced research environment.

• Analyze, document, and communicate experimental data clearly and accurately, both internally and externally.

• Provide technical guidance, training, and supervision to junior laboratory staff.

• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary research teams across disease and technology programs.

• Maintain accurate laboratory records and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

• Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices relevant to the role.

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Ability to work in a team-based collaborative environment.

• Works closely with teams across different functions to promote innovation and inclusivity, with the goal of achieving positive outcomes for patients.

Integrity

• Follow all facility and lab safety rules and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those you work with.

• Commitment to ethical and honest principles to ensure we uphold the credibility of our findings and our organization.

• Follow IBRI values, policies, procedures, and expectations, as well as any laws and/or rules pertaining to our work.

Qualifications:

• PhD in a relevant field, such as stem cell biology, developmental biology, cell/molecular biology, or a closely related discipline; postdoctoral training preferred.

• 0–4+ years of hands on relevant experience.

• Strong hands-on experience with human iPSC culture and differentiation.

• Experience with cell based assay development and experimental optimization.

• Ability to manage a heavy experimental workload independently.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects independently.

• Prior experience supervising or mentoring junior staff.

• Ability to thrive in a milestone-driven research environment.

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills including tact, diplomacy, and flexibility in order to work and interact effectively with staff, researchers and management in various forums.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability working in a multi-disciplinary team to drive the identification of new molecular entities to drive target enablement and new screening efforts in drug discovery. 

• Experience in generating SOP and documentation required to provide guidelines to team members. 

• Experience in working in multi-center, multi-discipline, milestone-driven projects. 

• Experience with automated or high-throughput assay platforms for drug screening and imaging.

Compensation:

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits offered commensurate with experience.

About Us:

The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) is a first-in-class translational medicine institute dedicated to advancing life sciences in the race to eliminate disease and improve human health and life.

By connecting early-stage biotech companies with cutting-edge life science discoveries —and backed by the mission and resources of industry leaders, investors, and philanthropic partners—IBRI is successfully evolving a new, independent model to conquer disease, uniting previously fragmented forces in the quest for cures.

Carefully curating and supporting early-stage companies with investment, talent, and space, IBRI strategically accelerates drug discovery. Our work benefits from the relatively low cost of living and doing business here, allowing more resources to be directed toward science.

Fueled by the same entrepreneurial creativity as the groundbreaking scientific work we support, IBRI’s labs advance research across the frontiers of diabetes, metabolic disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and rare pediatric diseases. Our ambitious public–private vision cultivates talent while efficiently bridging the gap between research-driven inquiry and profit-driven drug development.

At IBRI, cures are launched on a clear pathway to clinical trials, enabled by the combined resources and experience of our academic and industry partners, without the typical pressure to deliver rapid results for commercialization. IBRI labs pursue breakthroughs that might never happen elsewhere. Breakthroughs are happening here. Our novel financing model ensures that when discoveries are ready for clinical trials, the intellectual property is sold back to industry or spun off, creating a direct stream of revenue.

By every measure, the IBRI model demonstrates a novel approach that delivers rewards. Scientific bench work is nurtured, drug discovery is advanced, workforce development is continuous, investors see returns, and donors see impact. Most importantly, IBRI’s structure and portfolio of accomplishments matter to the patients whose lives are improved—or even saved—by this forward-looking approach to life sciences.

IBRI is driven to bring next-generation therapies to market with an understanding of the complex pressures that often bind innovation to economics. After more than a decade, the evidence is clear: IBRI is poised to transform life sciences—and for millions of people, even life itself.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The IBRI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and does not discriminate based on age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.