Founding Scientist

Location: Zurich - remote, hybrid or relocation.

Have you ever wanted to take full ownership of a drug discovery programme, from initial idea through to first in human?

This is an opportunity to join a venture-backed, AI native biotech at the earliest stage and play a central role in shaping how programmes are built, prioritised and advanced. You will not be inheriting a function. You will be helping define it.

About the company

Our client is building a new type of biotech. A small, high agency team focused on developing novel therapies for diseases with limited treatment options, using a combination of modern AI-enabled biology and a highly leveraged external model.

Rather than scaling large internal teams, they partner with best-in-class computational and wet lab CROs, allowing them to run multiple programmes in parallel while staying lean and focused. The founding team brings deep expertise in AI-driven biology and early discovery, with an ambition to build a new generation of virtual biotech capable of moving quickly from idea to clinical validation.

The role

This is a founding-level hire, intentionally broad in scope and high in impact. You will operate across the full lifecycle of drug discovery and early development, with real ownership of programmes rather than a narrow functional remit.

Key responsibilities include:

• Defining and prioritising therapeutic programmes, including target selection and disease focus
• Shaping translational strategy, including biomarker plans and disease models
• Identifying programme risks and designing mitigation strategies
• Driving preclinical development from concept through to IND enabling studies
• Working closely with CRO partners across both computational and experimental workflows
• Helping build the scientific and operational foundations of the company

You will also play a role in company building, from engaging external experts to selecting tools and shaping how work gets done.

What they are looking for

There is no single background that defines the right profile. This could suit:

• A senior scientist in translational biology or early development who wants greater ownership
• Someone from a biotech or academic environment who has worked across multiple stages of the discovery process
• A future founder looking to gain hands on experience at the earliest stage of company building
• An individual with strong biological depth and a clear track record of learning quickly across disciplines

Core attributes include:

• Deep biological understanding in any relevant discipline
• High agency and comfort operating in ambiguity
• Strong intellectual curiosity and ability to self direct learning
• Comfort operating in a tech enabled biology environment, including hands on familiarity with computational tools and basic Python or similar coding for practical use
• Genuine engagement with modern AI driven approaches to biology, beyond conceptual interest, with evidence of applying or experimenting with these tools in practice
• A practical mindset around translating science into viable programmes

What sets you apart

• Experience identifying and validating therapeutic targets or pathways

• Exposure to both discovery and preclinical development

• Evidence of building something meaningful, whether research, tools or programmes

• Interest or experience in immunology, neurodegeneration or related areas

Why this role

This is not a typical hire into an established structure. It is an opportunity to shape both the science and the way the company operates, working closely with a founding team that is already thinking differently about how biotech should be built.

Process

The process will involve an initial discussion, followed by deeper technical and strategic conversations with the founders. Timing is flexible, but the intention is to move with the right individual rather than a fixed deadline.

About Aspire Life Sciences

Aspire Life Sciences partners with founder-led biotech and technology-driven life science companies from early stage through to growth. We support across key leadership and technical hires, as well as advising on team build, structure and hiring strategy at critical inflection points.

If this role is of interest, or you would like to explore whether it aligns with your background, feel free to get in touch directly.