Associate Scientist, Pharmacology

Cartography Biosciences, Inc.; South San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Cartography Biosciences seeks an Associate Scientist to join the Pharmacology team, focusing on in vitro development and characterization of T cell engagers across our pipeline. This lab-focused role centers on high-throughput functional screening and MoA studies.

The ideal candidate brings experience in T cell biology, in vitro assays, and flow cytometry, with a strong emphasis on data interpretation and meticulous ELN documentation. On-site in South San Francisco, five days a week.

Qualifications

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in Biology or related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on lab experience in academia or industry.
• Proficiency in tissue culture including PBMCs and cancer cell lines.
• Experience in T cell biology and in vitro functional assays.
• Hands-on flow cytometry experience.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent organization and meticulous ELN record-keeping.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, proactive in a fast-paced environment.
• Team-player with strong communication skills.
• On-site presence 5 days a week.

Responsibilities

• Execute high-throughput in vitro screening assays for T cell engagers.
• Perform characterization assays, including flow cytometry.
• Maintain and expand primary cell culture and cancer cell line culture.
• Design, execute, and troubleshoot assays independently and collaboratively.
• Maintain ELN records and contribute to SOPs and documentation.
• Analyze, visualize, and interpret experimental data (FlowJo, GraphPad, Excel).
• Contribute to general lab operations including reagents, equipment, inventory.
• Summarize and present results and progress at team meetings.

Skills

T cell biology

In vitro assay development

Flow cytometry

Data analysis

ELN record-keeping

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Master's/Bachelor's degree in Biology or related field

Tools

FlowJo

GraphPad Prism

Excel

Job description

Cartography Biosciences is advancing a differentiated oncology pipeline of antibody-based therapies designed to target tumors with unprecedented precision. The company’s ATLAS and SUMMIT discovery platforms are powered by an industry-leading, fully integrated dataset spanning hundreds of thousands of cell states across healthy tissues alongside large-scale single-cell profiling of patient tumors. By combining petabyte-scale proprietary data, machine learning, and AI-driven biological insights, Cartography is identifying highly specific tumor targets and logic-gated target combinations to generate therapies engineered for maximal tumor selectivity and meaningful patient impact. The company’s lead program, CBI-1214, is a T-cell engager in development for colorectal cancer. CBI-1214 entered the clinic in early 2026 and is currently enrolling and treating patients in a phase 1 trial.

Cartography Biosciences is seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist to join our Pharmacology team and play a pivotal role in the in vitro development and characterization of novel T cell engagers across our pipeline. This lab-focused role centers on high-throughput functional screening as well as secondary characterization assays. The ideal candidate brings experience in T cell biology, in vitro assay development and MoA studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute high-throughput in vitro screening assays for T cell engagers, such as in vitro cytotoxicity
• Perform characterization assays, including flow cytometry
• Maintain and expand primary cell culture (PBMCs, primary T cells) and cancer cell line culture
• Design, execute, and troubleshoot assays independently as well as in collaboration with others
• Maintain accurate, well-organized records in the electronic lab notebook (ELN) and contribute to SOP development and assay documentation
• Analyze, visualize, and interpret experimental data (e.g., FlowJo, GraphPad Prism, Excel)
• Contribute to general lab operations, including reagent preparation, equipment maintenance, and inventory management
• Summarize and present experimental results and progress updates at team meetings

Qualifications

• Master's/Bachelor's degree in Biology, or a related scientific field
• 3+ years of relevant hands-on laboratory experience in academia or industry
• Proficiency in tissue culture, including both primary cell culture (e.g., PBMCs, primary T cells) and cancer cell line maintenance
• Experience in T cell biology and in vitro functional assays
• Hands-on experience with flow cytometry
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to independently analyze, interpret, and troubleshoot experimental data
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and accurate record-keeping (ELN)
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and proactive in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated team player with a professional and positive attitude
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Able to be on-site and in person 5 days a week

Preferred

• Experience working with T cell engagers is strongly preferred
• Familiarity with TDCC and on-cell binding assays
• Experience with data analysis software such as FlowJo and GraphPad Prism

Location

South San Francisco, CA — on-site, 5 days a week (Pharmacology team).