Job title: Scientist, Assay Development & Digital Pathology (AcelaBio)
Department: AcelaBio
Team: AcelaBio
Location: San Diego, California
All locations: San Diego, California
Work type: Full-time, Permanent
Workplace type: hybrid
About AcelaBio
AcelaBio is a CAP- and CLIA-accredited specialty histopathology laboratory based in San Diego, CA. We deliver anatomic histopathology, immunostaining, digital image analysis, spatial transcriptomics, and biomarker endpoints to pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. Our team is scientifically driven, client-focused, and committed to advancing translational research through rigorous, reproducible methods.
About the opportunity
This is a high-impact, technically hands-on role at the intersection of immunostaining assay development, quantitative image analysis, and client science. You will build and optimize IHC, multiplex IF, and ISH assays from the ground up, develop and maintain AI-assisted image analysis pipelines, and serve as a scientific lead for sponsor studies across preclinical and clinical programs.
You will work directly with pathologists, laboratory technicians, project operations, and business development teams, and will be a visible scientific partner to our pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. If you are someone who thrives on solving complex assay challenges, values scientific rigor, and enjoys translating data into clear, actionable insights for sponsors, this role is built for you.
Role Logistics: On-site, San Diego (required). Travel expectations ~ 10%
Responsibilities
What you'll be doing:
Assay Development, Image Analysis (Core Focus):
Design, develop, optimize, and validate immunostaining assays including single-plex IHC, multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), in situ hybridization (ISH), and spatial biology platforms.
Define analytical endpoints, scoring strategies, and QC metrics aligned with assay performance requirements.
Develop, validate, and maintain image analysis pipelines using platforms such as Visiopharm, HALO, or equivalent software.
Build and implement AI/machine learning algorithms for tissue segmentation, cell phenotyping, and biomarker quantification.
Ensure traceability, reproducibility, and thorough documentation of all analysis workflows.
Contribute to assay validation documentation, analytical reports, and regulatory-aligned deliverables.
Partner with histotechnicians to support hands-on assay troubleshooting and knowledge transfer
Scientific Leadership & Client Engagement;
Serve as a scientific interface for sponsors, participating in protocol reviews, study design discussions, and data review meetings.
Provide expert guidance on biomarker study design incorporating omics and non-omics endpoints.
Prepare and review project plans, analysis plans, study reports, abstracts, and technical manuscripts.
Deliver clear, scientifically rigorous data visualizations, analyses, and summaries tailored to sponsor audiences
Business Development and Innovation:
Support RFP responses, project pricing, protocol review, and bid defense activities.
Contribute to the development of sales, marketing, and promotional scientific content.
Drive continuous improvement of our computational pathology, spatial biology, and translational research service offerings.
Participate in capability development and functionality reviews to expand the AcelaBio service portfolio.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Graduate degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in a relevant scientific discipline (pathology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, or related field).
7 or more years of hands-on experience in IHC/IF assay development and image analysis in a CRO, biopharma, or regulated research environment.
Demonstrated experience building image analysis algorithms or pipelines in platforms such as Visiopharm, HALO, or similar.
Exposure to spatial biology platforms (e.g., 10x Visium, Xenium, Akoya PhenoCycler) is a strong asset.
Technical Skills & Competencies :
Deep practical knowledge of chromogenic IHC and multiplex immunofluorescence, including antibody selection, panel design, optimization, and troubleshooting.
Proficiency in digital pathology image analysis and quantitative biomarker readout strategies.
Familiarity with AI/ML approaches for histopathology applications.
Understanding of regulatory and GxP expectations for assay validation documentation.
Scientific rigor and meticulous attention to detail.
Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong written and oral English communication skills; comfortable presenting at client meetings and scientific forums.
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, client-driven environment.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across laboratory, scientific, and operational functions.
Compensation is dependent on the unique experience, skills, and education the successful candidate brings to the role. The range above represents an estimated base salary that we would expect to compensate at, but we encourage applicants to speak with the member of the TA team if contacted for an initial phone screen should your expectations differ from those listed above.