Description

About Us 

Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.

It is Kardigan’s mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.
 
Led by Tassos Giannakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan’s co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.
 
We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.
 
At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families, we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic—leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn, we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.
 
These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.
 
Job Overview 

Kardigan is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scientist with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, with an interest in cardiovascular research and laboratory animal medicine. This position offers a unique opportunity to bridge veterinary clinical expertise with translational science in a fast-paced biotech environment, with an emphasis on skill development in cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology. The successful candidate will drive to the development and refinement of animal models of cardiovascular disease, design and execute preclinical studies, and play an active role in building and expanding our animal care program. 

Ultimately, this fellowship aims to train the next generation of veterinary translational scientists in cardiovascular physiology and drug development within an industry setting. This role will integrate and reinforce the contribution of animal welfare and clinical veterinary principles on the development and execution of highly translational preclinical research. Successful candidates will achieve meaningful preparation for careers in laboratory animal medicine, veterinary clinical cardiology, or translational cardiovascular research. 

The position will be based in South San Francisco, CA. Short domestic travel may be required as part of academic or external collaborations. 

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

The postdoctoral scientist will lead and support preclinical in vivo studies using rodent and rabbit models, with responsibilities spanning experimental design, hands-on animal work, data collection, and interpretation. Specific duties include: 

Planning and executing cardiovascular studies in rats and rabbits, including echocardiography, invasive hemodynamic instrumentation, and surgical models. 
Developing, optimizing, and validating cardiovascular disease models in small and large animals.
Applying clinical veterinary judgment to ensure animal welfare is rigorously observed. 
Managing IACUC protocols, regulatory documentation, and compliance with institutional and federal animal care guidelines.  
Collecting, organizing, and analyzing experimental datasets using appropriate statistical methods, and maintaining thorough and reproducible records.
Leading/contributing to the preparation of manuscripts, internal research reports, regulatory submissions, and conference presentations.  
Collaborating cross-functionally to align preclinical findings with broader program goals. 
Mentoring junior lab members and contributing to a culture of scientific rigor and reproducibility.
 

Qualifications and Preferred Skills 

Candidates must hold a DVM degree from an accredited institution, with active veterinary medical license in good standing with one or more U.S. state.
A PhD, MS, or equivalent research training is preferred but not required.
Hands-on experience with rodents (mouse and/or rat) and rabbits, including survival surgeries, vascular catheterization, or echocardiography is preferred but not required.
Ability to work independently and in a team setting, with an emphasis on collaboration, adaptability, and willingness to contribute.
Meticulous documentation and attention to detail in record-keeping and data collection.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively in a time-sensitive environment with minimal supervision.
Proactive and self-directed approach to problem-solving.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present scientific data clearly to colleagues and leadership.
Familiarity with software tools for data analysis, including GraphPad Prism, Excel, and others.
Knowledge of IACUC protocols, animal welfare regulations, biosafety procedures, and proper use of personal protective equipment in research settings is preferred.
Willingness to participate in rotational clinical coverage, including weekend and after-hours-on call responsibilities.