Principal Scientist, Cancer Biology

THE POSITION

We are seeking an experienced cancer biologist to help lead our Biology Team. In this position, you will help lead and manage our Biology Team and work closely with our Platform Team in the development of our core drug discovery technology.

Your responsibilities will include phenotypic assay development, establishing pre‑clincial in vitro/in vivo studies, performing mechanistic studies on lead drug molecules, spearheading forays into new oncology indications, and grant writing.

ABOUT YOU

High Agency. Initiative, independence, and self-accountability are some of our most valued traits.

Enthusiastic. We love people who are excited about what they are doing and are actively working to build a high-energy team.

Intensity and Grit. Early-stage startups are hard. Drug discovery is doubly so. We are looking for candidates who have a demonstrated ability to stick with complex problems for the long haul, with a team that has your back along the way.

Prosocial. We are here to create life-saving medicines for the patients who need it most. You should be, too.

QUALIFICATIONS & NICE-TO-HAVES

• PhD in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, or related field.
• 5-7+ years of industry experience.
• Deep understanding of small‑molecule drug discovery and its relationship to human disease.
• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with a track record of managing high‑performing, multidisciplinary teams.

Strong experience with :

• Cellular and molecular biology, including cancer cell line work and associated assays, stable cell line generation (lentiviral and CRISPR‑based systems), co‑IP/pull‑down assays, RNA‑seq, global proteomics, flow cytometry, plasmid design/cloning etc.
• Pre‑clincial characterization and mechanistic elucidation of small‑molecule drug candidates.
• Mechanistic studies of cancer cell signaling and PTM analysis.
• Phenotypic assay development for cancer drug discovery (low to high throughput).
• Small molecule drug development campaigns (hit discovery, hit validation, dose‑response studies, SAR and MOA studies).

Proficiency in:

• Managing a team of exceptional scientists and research associates.
• Target/indication selection.
• Animal models of cancer (GEMM, orthotopic, xenograft models), in vivo study design, and PK/PD interpretation.
• Grant writing.

Nice to have:

• Experience navigating IND‑enabling studies and working on teams that have successfully advanced research to the clinic.
• Experience working at the interface of cancer biology and chemistry.
• Familiarity or experience with PROTAC/next‑gen IPM technologies.
• Experience with PPI techniques (e.g., BRET, APEX/BioID, AlphaScreen etc.).

BENEFITS

• Strong equity incentives. We are looking for candidates who will bring a strong sense of ownership to drive their project areas forward, and we believe that you deserve to be compensated accordingly.
• Top tier medical, dental, and vision coverage + One Medical membership.
• Education and health/fitness incentive programs.
• Meditation retreats—do a ten‑day Vipassana retreat without counting towards vacation days.
• Reading budget! We will buy you books.
• Located in the MBC BioLabs at 135 Mississippi Street, an entrepreneurial hub full of the best scientists and operators the Bay Area has to offer. Our lab is a very short walk from the 22nd St Caltrain Station and a number of wonderful restaurants and cafés.

Title and compensation commensurate with experience. Applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds, women, and members of underrepresented minority groups are particularly welcomed.

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