Principal Biologist

Aqemia; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two remote days per week

Paris and London offices

Job summary

AQEMIA, a Paris/London-based drug invention company, is seeking a senior biology-focused professional to shape our growing portfolio of small molecule programs, starting with oncology and immuno-oncology. You will work with the VP of biology and multidisciplinary teams to accelerate discovery of clinical candidates.

The role demands a PhD in biological sciences and 8+ years in early-stage drug discovery, with hands-on wet-lab work and strong data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences (e.g., pharmacology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biochemistry) or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong experience in small molecule drug discovery, including progression from hit identification to candidate nomination.
• Significant industry experience (typically ~8+ years) in early-stage drug discovery and project ideation.
• Demonstrated expertise in oncology and/or immuno-oncology.
• Solid understanding of experimental biology, with hands-on wet lab experience to effectively guide and challenge external partners.
• Proven ability to apply rigorous, data-driven thinking in a multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive the identification, validation, and selection of novel biological targets aligned with clear unmet medical needs
• Contribute to early-stage project ideation by providing deep biological insight and a strong understanding of the drug discovery value chain
• Guide programs from early discovery into the AQEMIA pipeline, supporting progression toward proof of concept
• Design, implement, and maintain screening cascades to enable efficient compound evaluation and decision-making
• Partner with project teams to provide biological expertise, identify risks, and support data-driven prioritization
• Manage and collaborate with external CROs to define experimental strategies and ensure generation of high-quality, decision-enabling datasets
• Foster cross-functional collaboration, integrating biology with chemistry, modeling, and platform teams

Skills

Biology expertise

Drug discovery

Oncology IO

Team collaboration

Data-driven mindset

Wet lab experience

Education

PhD in biological sciences

Job description

About AQEMIA

AQEMIA is a drug invention company dedicated to creating entirely new medicines to address major unmet medical needs. At the core of our mission is QEMI , our proprietary molecule-invention platform, which uniquely combines cutting-edge science with advanced technology. Powered by physics-based modeling, statistical mechanics, and generative AI, QEMI allows our teams to design novel drug candidates from first principles.

What makes AQEMIA different is our commitment to true innovation: our research is dedicated to the invention of new molecular entities, not the refinement of existing ones. We focus on inventing never-before-seen molecules , without relying on experimental data, and advancing them into a growing pipeline of proprietary programs and strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies.

Our most advanced preclinical programs are currently in vivo optimization , targeting diseases still waiting for effective treatments, offering our teams the opportunity to work on science that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

For more information, visit AQEMIA.com, our WTTJ Page, and our LinkedIn.

About our Team

AQEMIA brings together a diverse, multidisciplinary team of 80+ professionals based in Paris and London. Our scientists and engineers, including chemists, physicists, machine learning experts, and software engineers, work side by side to push the boundaries of early-stage drug discovery.

This close collaboration across disciplines is central to our approach, enabling us to tackle complex scientific challenges from first principles and translate cutting-edge ideas into novel therapeutic candidates. At AQEMIA, team members are encouraged to contribute their expertise, learn from one another, and play an active role in shaping the future of drug invention.

About the Drug Discovery Team

The Drug Discovery Sciences team (~20 people) combines expertise in medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, biology, and translational science .

Working at the intersection of AI-driven drug design, molecular simulations, and experimental science, the team is responsible for driving scientific excellence across Aqemia's drug discovery programs and delivering clinical candidates.

They develop and apply innovative methodologies ensuring that scientific insights translate into high-quality therapeutic opportunities.

Partnering closely with Platform, Engineering, and Program teams, they play a critical role in advancing novel small-molecule therapeutics from concept to clinical candidate.

The role

Join Aqemia in a role where you will help shape our rapidly expanding portfolio of small molecule programs across diverse therapeutic areas, beginning with oncology and immuno-oncology. This is a unique chance to build a pipeline working closely with the VP of biology, and multidisciplinary teams to accelerate the discovery of clinical candidates. You'll become part of a dedicated team focusing on providing biological support across the Aqemia portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Drive the identification, validation, and selection of novel biological targets aligned with clear unmet medical needs


• Contribute to early-stage project ideation by providing deep biological insight and a strong understanding of the drug discovery value chain


• Guide programs from early discovery into the AQEMIA pipeline, supporting progression toward proof of concept


• Design, implement, and maintain screening cascades to enable efficient compound evaluation and decision-making


• Partner with project teams to provide biological expertise, identify risks, and support data-driven prioritization


• Manage and collaborate with external CROs to define experimental strategies and ensure generation of high-quality, decision-enabling datasets


• Foster cross-functional collaboration, integrating biology with chemistry, modeling, and platform teams

Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences (e.g., pharmacology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biochemistry) or equivalent industry experience


• Strong experience in small molecule drug discovery, including progression from hit identification to candidate nomination


• Significant industry experience (typically ~8+ years) in early-stage drug discovery and project ideation


• Demonstrated expertise in oncology and/or immuno-oncology


• Solid understanding of experimental biology, with hands-on wet lab experience to effectively guide and challenge external partners


• Proven ability to apply rigorous, data-driven thinking in a multidisciplinary environment

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience working in a Contract Research Organization-based or highly outsourced R&D model


• Track record of contributing to innovative drug discovery strategies aligned with business objectives


• Experience in project or portfolio management across complex, cross-functional teams


• Strong ability to anticipate and mitigate scientific and strategic risks


• Familiarity with translational biology and biomarker strategies

Why Join Us?

At AQEMIA, we work for a mission: joining us means having your own impact on changing the way drugs are discovered, and helping to shape the direction of our fast-growing company and team.

Expanding Drug Discovery Pipeline : Focused on critical therapeutic areas like Oncology, CNS, Immuno-inflammation... with in vivo proof of concept/patent stage programs. Collaborations with top Pharma, including a $140M Sanofi deal.

World-Class Interdisciplinary Team : work alongside exceptional talent at the intersection of technology and life sciences. Our teams combine deep expertise in AI, physics-based modeling, biology, and medicinal chemistry to push the boundaries of innovation.

DeepTech Recognition : AQEMIA is proud to be part of the French Tech 120 and France 2030 , highlighting our role as a key player in Europe’s DeepTech ecosystem.

Prime Location with Flexibility : Our offices are located in the heart of Paris andLondon (King's Cross), with flexible work arrangements including up to two remote days per week.

Strong Financial Backing : $100M raised from leading European and International investors