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Full-time
Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Hybrid)

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Senior Researcher Biotechnology – Age Related Disorders

The Senior Researcher will drive experimental research on cellular senescence, immune modulation and aging-related pathways. This role is hands-on in the laboratory, contributing directly to the scientific foundation of Valvian’s longevity pipeline and supporting early therapeutic programs.

About Valvian

Valvian is a Lisbon-based biotechnology company developing next-generation therapeutics for cancer and age-related disorders. We exist because cancer and the diseases of ageing remain among the largest sources of human suffering, and the conventional drug-discovery playbook has been slow to close the gap. Our bet is that better therapeutics will come from a tighter integration of disease biology, translational biomarkers and computational pipelines.

In oncology, our focus is solid tumours, where antigen complexity, the tumour microenvironment and immune evasion demand careful modality selection, safety-by-design and biomarker-driven translation. Our portfolio includes antibodies and cell therapies designed specifically for solid-tumour constraints. In age-related disorders, we work on the system-level biology of ageing: immune ageing, chronic inflammation, progressive tissue dysfunction and cellular senescence, with biomarker anchors that make each programme development-ready.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Experimental research
  • Design and execute in vitro experiments related to senescence, inflammaging, immune function and metabolic stress.
  • Perform assays such as flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, phenotypic screening, transcriptomics sample prep and senescence markers.
  • Analyse and interpret experimental data and provide clear documentation.
  1. Target and biomarker exploration
  • Investigate pathways associated with aging and age-related immune dysfunction.
  • Support the identification and validation of targets relevant to senescence clearance, immune rejuvenation and metabolic regulation.
  1. Collaboration with AI and multi-omics
  • Provide curated biological data to the AI team.
  • Test experimentally the biological hypotheses and predictions generated by computational models.
  • Contribute to integrated analyses combining omics datasets (transcriptomics, proteomics, glycomics).
  1. Support for preclinical program development
  • Assist in generating data packages for internal decision points and external partners.
  • Conduct preliminary efficacy and mechanism-of-action studies.
  • Prepare material for presentations, internal reviews and investors when needed.
  1. Laboratory operations
  • Ensure proper documentation, reproducibility and adherence to good laboratory practices.
  • Help maintain equipment, reagents and lab workflows in coordination with the lab manager.
  • Mentor junior researchers or interns when appropriate.

Required Qualifications

  • PhD in Cell Biology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Gerontology, Molecular Biology or related fields.

Preferred Experience

  • 3 to 7 years of research experience in areas such as aging biology, senescence, chronic inflammation, immune cell biology or metabolic stress.
  • Strong track record of hands-on lab work and experimental design.
  • Experience with multi-omics or computational biology is a plus, but not required.
  • Previous biotech experience is appreciated but not mandatory.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent wet-lab experimental skills.
  • Ability to analyse complex datasets and derive biological insights.
  • Strong scientific writing skills.
  • Proactive, organised and execution-oriented.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced biotech environment.

What We Offer

  • Opportunity to join a high-growth biotech shaping the future of healthy aging.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge science combining wet lab, glycobiology and AI.
  • Direct contribution to early discovery and preclinical programs.
  • Collaboration with international centres and senior scientists.