Target Discovery Scientist (Research Biologist)

OutSee; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Share options

Dynamic startup environment

Job summary

A leading tech-bio startup in Cambridge is seeking a Target Discovery Scientist. You will evaluate and investigate novel drug targets using our AI platform, contributing to pre-clinical assessment. The ideal candidate holds a PhD in relevant fields and has a strong background in molecular biology and genetics. This role offers a high-impact position within a growing company focusing on innovative genomic analysis. Competitive benefits and share options are also included.

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant scientific fields.
• Experience as a Research Scientist with publication records.
• Strong understanding of genetics and disease mechanisms.
• Understanding of statistics in human genomics; familiarity with genetic cohorts.
• Programming skills in Python or R are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate functional and molecular mechanisms of genetic influence on diseases.
• Analyze databases and literature to support hypotheses.
• Review and analyze various evidence types relevant to biomedical hypotheses.
• Reviewing and analysing evidence such as tissue/cell expression data, genetic evidence, interaction data, protein structure and sequence analysis, clinical data, disease models, animal or organoid results, ontologies

Skills

Knowledge of molecular biology

Analytical problem-solving skills

Good communication skills

Teamwork

Communication & teamwork

Education

PhD in Genomics, Molecular or Cell Biology, Bioinformatics

Tools

Programming skills in Python

Programming skills in R

1000 Genomes

Job description

Target Discovery Scientist (Research Biologist)

Location: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

OutSee is a tech‑bio startup defining the state of the art in genomic drug target discovery. Where current methods seek correlations between genetics and disease, our AI platform Nomaly searches for the causal biological mechanisms driving disease.

We are recruiting a biologist who is proactive and relentlessly curious to evaluate, investigate and triage the novel drug targets discovered by Nomaly, our proprietary computational genomics platform.

• High‑impact role in a funded cutting‑edge TechBio startup with strong growth potential.
• Opportunity to discover, investigate, and shape a pipeline of novel drug targets across multiple disease areas.
• Work with novel AI‑driven computational approaches for drug target discovery and precision medicine.
• Collaborate with top‑tier scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of genomic analysis.
• Competitive benefits, share options, and a dynamic startup environment.

Role Overview

As a Target Discovery Scientist / Research Biologist, you will play a vital part in our target generation and biomarker discovery efforts. You will contribute scientific analysis for the pre‑clinical assessment of potential candidates generated from Nomaly, our differentiated platform technology. Using your expertise in molecular biology and genetics, you will prioritise novel drug targets, linking them via function to disease biology, and in some cases profiling target safety and progressability.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluating functional and molecular mechanisms for a genetic influence on a disease
• Finding and analysing databases, resources and literature to build the case for your hypotheses
• Weighing multiple sources of evidence, triaging and prioritising leads, and independently investigating to build a story around a biomedical hypothesis
• Depending on your experience, reviewing and analysing a range of evidence such as tissue/cell expression data, independent genetic evidence, interaction data, protein structure and sequence analysis, clinical data, published disease model, animal or organoid results, ontologies, etc.

Qualifications

• PhD in Genomics, Molecular or Cell biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field
• Strong knowledge of molecular biology, an understanding of genetics, and ideally experience interpreting disease mechanisms
• Experience as a Research Scientist with a proven track record of publishing high‑impact scientific papers in biology, or in delivering and completing projects or objectives using analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Understanding of the statistics and the principles behind human genomics is preferred, and/or optionally experience in genomics research e.g. working with VCF files, UKBiobank, 1000 genomes or other genetic cohorts
• Optionally programming skills, particularly in languages such as Python or R
• A desire to learn and embrace new approaches
• Good communication and teamwork skills

Application Guidance

We receive an exceptionally high number of applications, so please follow this guidance so that we can review your application:

• Apply by sending a CV and a short one‑paragraph cover letter to [e-mail]. CVs without cover letters will be rejected without review.
• Your CV should be one page only and must include all relevant grades (including degree and high school). If you have a degree from outside the UK, briefly describe the university.
• Write a short cover letter of one paragraph describing in your own words: a) why you are motivated to apply for this role, and b) how your abilities, experience and interests will make you suited to the role. Do not use AI to write your cover letter.
• State when you would be able to start work, and if you have the right to work in the UK. OutSee can sponsor visas for high‑potential applicants.
• If you are not based in Cambridge now, describe how you will relocate or travel to work every day.
• If you do not follow these guidelines, unfortunately your application will be rejected without further consideration due to application volume.

Senior level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Research, Analyst, and Information Technology