Senior Biologist

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

Job summary

AQEMIA in Paris and London is seeking a Biology Lead to guide small molecule programs from hit to lead and into candidate nomination.

You will work with medicinal chemists, computational scientists, and AI specialists in a fast-paced, collaborative environment across oncology and CNS, with exposure to in vivo pharmacology.

AQEMIA offers flexible work arrangements including up to two remote days per week and a strong, growing pipeline backed by major investors.

Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences (e.g., pharmacology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biochemistry).
• Typically ~5+ years of industry experience in small molecule drug discovery.
• Hands-on experience progressing projects through hit-to-lead or lead optimization.
• Strong expertise in oncology or CNS and wet-lab biology.

Responsibilities

• Act as biology lead on a drug discovery project, driving its biological strategy and progression from hit-to-lead through lead optimization
• Design, implement, and maintain screening cascades to generate high-quality in vitro and in vivo data
• Sign off biological experiments and collaborate with external CROs on study design, model selection, and data quality
• Analyse and interpret biological and pharmacological data, building data packages and recommendations for DDS leadership
• Identify scientific risks early and highlight opportunities to accelerate project progression
• Bring independent ideas on project direction and differentiation from competitors
• Contribute to target identification and new project ideation across oncology and CNS
• Foster cross-functional collaboration, integrating biology with chemistry, modeling, and platform teams

Skills

In vitro pharmacology

Screening cascade design

Oncology/CNS expertise

Scientific communication

Biology wet lab experience

Project leadership

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 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 lead the biology of small molecule programs as they move rapidly from hit to lead, through lead optimization and towards candidate nomination.

As we expand our portfolio across oncology and CNS, this is a unique chance to act as biology lead on a drug discovery project, working closely with medicinal chemists, computational scientists and AI specialists in a small, fast‑moving team. You’ll own the project’s biology day to day, from screening cascade design and CRO‑run experiments to data interpretation and recommendations to leadership at key decision gates. We’ll also count on you to bring your own ideas on how to differentiate our projects from competitors working on the same targets.

Responsibilities

• Act as biology lead on a drug discovery project, driving its biological strategy and progression from hit‑to‑lead through lead optimization
• Design, implement, and maintain screening cascades to generate high‑quality, decision‑enabling in vitro and in vivo data
• Sign off biological experiments and collaborate with external CROs on study design, model selection, and data quality
• Analyse and interpret biological and pharmacological data, building clear data packages and recommendations for DDS leadership and co‑founders at project decision gates
• Identify scientific risks early, clearly voice concerns, and highlight opportunities to accelerate project progression
• Bring independent ideas on project direction and differentiation from competitor programs
• Contribute to target identification and new project ideation across oncology and CNS
• 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)
• Significant industry experience (typically ~5+ years) in small molecule drug discovery within biotech or pharma
• Hands‑on experience progressing projects through hit‑to‑lead and/or lead optimization
• Strong expertise in in vitro pharmacology and screening cascade design
• Demonstrated expertise in oncology or CNS
• Solid understanding of experimental biology, with hands‑on wet lab experience to effectively guide and challenge external partners
• Confident communicator, comfortable presenting data‑driven recommendations in a small, fast‑paced team

Nice‑to‑Have

• Experience in in vivo pharmacology, including the design and execution of animal models
• Experience preparing projects for the transition from lead optimization to candidate nomination
• Background in a small biotech, with end‑to‑end ownership of project biology
• Exposure to both oncology and CNS therapeutic areas

Please note that applications for this role will close on November 18th, 2026.

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 40 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 and London (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

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.