Molecular Biology PhD - GenAI Expert

Mercor; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Obsidian is seeking a Molecular Biology SME to contribute foundational DNA/RNA sequence design for AI training data. You will design primers, plasmids, gRNA/sgRNA, and mRNA constructs, validating biological reasoning and providing expert‑level solutions.

You will work with researchers and engineers to close gaps in model reasoning, write ground‑truth guidelines, and help ensure consistent data quality across projects in a cutting‑edge GenAI team.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree, PhD strongly preferred, in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, synthetic biology, bioengineering or a related life science field.
• Hands‑on experience designing nucleic acid constructs before the experiment runs, across primers, plasmids and vectors, gRNA and sgRNA, mRNA, and HDR or repair templates, together with the cloning strategy behind them (Gibson, Golden Gate, Gateway, restriction) and codon optimization.
• A strong peer‑reviewed publication record, weighted toward first‑author work in notable venues such as Nature and the Nature family, Cell, eLife, Nucleic Acids Research, PNAS and EMBO Journal.
• Clear career progression.
• You can commit reliably to at least 20 hours a week on weekdays.
• Previous work in AI training, model evaluation or data annotation is a plus.
• Strong written communication, and the ability to explain the reasoning behind a design choice clearly and precisely.

Responsibilities

• Work with research and engineering teams to find where a model's molecular biology reasoning breaks down, and help close those gaps.
• Design hard, domain‑relevant tasks and write the accurate, well documented solutions that become ground truth. That spans primers for PCR, qPCR and cloning, plasmids and expression vectors, gRNA and sgRNA for CRISPR editing, mRNA and RNA constructs, and HDR or repair templates.
• Review molecular biology tasks and model outputs against expert‑quality solutions, and give clear written feedback on correctness, rigor and biological reasoning.
• Write the guidelines and rubrics used to judge sequence design quality, covering guide and target selection, homology arm length, primer melting temperature and specificity, codon optimization, and regulatory elements.
• Work alongside other subject matter experts so the training data stays consistent and accurate.

Skills

Molecular biology

DNA/RNA construct design

gRNA/gRNA design

Primer/plasmid/vector design

Technical writing

Education

PhD in molecular biology or related field

Tools

Gibson Assembly

Golden Gate

Gateway cloning

Codon optimization

Job description

Join a leading AI lab's cutting‑edge GenAI team to be at the core of the AI revolution, where your expertise fuels the development of the most advanced AI models.

1. Overview

Join a leading AI lab's cutting‑edge GenAI team and help build foundational AI models from the ground up. We're looking for Molecular Biology subject‑matter experts (SMEs) who have designed DNA and RNA sequences themselves, including primers, plasmids, guide RNAs, mRNA constructs and repair templates, and who can bring that depth to the quality of our AI training data.

This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC (or appropriate international entity), with the opportunity to be placed at a leading AI Lab as part of their extended workforce.

2. Key Responsibilities

• Work with research and engineering teams to find where a model's molecular biology reasoning breaks down, and help close those gaps.

• Design hard, domain‑relevant tasks and write the accurate, well documented solutions that become ground truth. That spans primers for PCR, qPCR and cloning, plasmids and expression vectors, gRNA and sgRNA for CRISPR editing, mRNA and RNA constructs, and HDR or repair templates.

• Review molecular biology tasks and model outputs against expert‑quality solutions, and give clear written feedback on correctness, rigor and biological reasoning.

• Write the guidelines and rubrics used to judge sequence design quality, covering guide and target selection, homology arm length, primer melting temperature and specificity, codon optimization, and regulatory elements.

• Work alongside other subject matter experts so the training data stays consistent and accurate.

3. Core Qualifications

• An advanced degree, PhD strongly preferred, in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, synthetic biology, bioengineering or a related life science field.

• Hands‑on experience designing nucleic acid constructs before the experiment runs, across several of primers, plasmids and vectors, gRNA and sgRNA, mRNA, and HDR or repair templates, together with the cloning strategy behind them (Gibson, Golden Gate, Gateway, restriction) and codon optimization.

• A strong peer‑reviewed publication record, weighted toward first‑author work in notable venues such as Nature and the Nature family, Cell, eLife, Nucleic Acids Research, PNAS and EMBO Journal.

• Clear career progression.

• You can commit reliably to at least 20 hours a week on weekdays.

• Previous work in AI training, model evaluation or data annotation is a plus.

• Strong written communication, and the ability to explain the reasoning behind a design choice clearly and precisely.

About Cincinnatus LLC: Cincinnatus LLC is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology companies to source and employ highly skilled professionals for contingent and contract‑based opportunities. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record for these engagements, providing W-2 employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance, while placing employees directly within client teams to work on high‑impact initiatives.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Cincinnatus is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or any other legally protected characteristic.