Postdoctoral Fellow

Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators and next-in-class muscle inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised and/or declining. As a leader in muscle biology and the mechanics of muscle performance, the company is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically engineered to impact muscle function and contractility.

We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join our research team to explore new and exciting areas of muscle biology. Cytokinetics postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to develop their own independent research project that can focus on one or more facets of muscle biology such as contractility, mitochondria function, and metabolism. Fellows will also engage in the drug discovery process, gaining foundational knowledge in target discovery, model development, and therapeutic mechanism of action.  As a leader in muscle biology, our goal is to train the next generation of scientists poised to enter the biotech or academic research communities to aid the mission of discovering new medicines for cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases.  

Job purpose (what we will do for the postdoctoral fellow) 

• Provide a postdoctoral research experience through impactful, mentored research that lays the foundation for a career in biotech or academia ​ 
• Provide enrichment in communication, leadership, and laboratory management​ 
• Bestow foundational knowledge of the drug discovery and development process​ 
• Cultivate a broad scientific network ​in biotech and academia  

Responsibilities (what the postdoc will do for CK) 

• The candidate will be involved in designing and executing an independent research project focused on cardiac or skeletal muscle biology. The fellow will work collaboratively with their research mentor with the goal of generating a high impact publication.  
• The candidate will play an integral role in championing new projects and ideas for discovery of novel targets and therapeutics, and will conduct research both working independently and in a collaborative team-based setting  
• As a key team member, the candidate will provide regular project updates and progress in small and large group settings, and provide scientific and technical expertise to advance programs 

Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.

Qualifications 

• PhD in biochemistry, bioengineering, cell/molecular biology, physiology, or related field  
• Expertise in one or more of the following: primary and mammalian cell culture systems, in vivo models of heart failure and/or skeletal muscle diseases, RNA-seq, proteomics, bioinformatics analysis   
• Well-articulated career goals in research (biotech or academia) ​ 
• Track record for research excellence, independent critical thinking, and the ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments as demonstrated by high quality publications, presentations, fellowship, and grants 
• Enthusiasm for working in a team-based, multi-disciplinary environment, paired with excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Clear commitment to a rigorous 2-year research and enrichment program ​ 

Application Process 

Each application should include:   

• NIH Biosketch (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm for formatting instructions)  
• Cover letter (1-2 pages) that includes the following: (A) Summary of research accomplishments, (B) Proposed career path, (C) How a 2-year Cytokinetics postdoctoral experience will prepare you for your career path  
• Three letters of recommendation 

 

Salary pay range: $80,000 - $85,000. Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience, as well as the service line and location where this position may be filled.  Please review our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy PRIOR to applying.  

 

Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep