Biochemical Assay Scientist - High-Throughput Screening

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Equity

Annual target bonus

Job summary

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. in South San Francisco is seeking an Associate Scientist I to develop, optimize and run biochemical binding assays (AlphaScreen/AlphaLISA).

You will own assays from reagent qualification through screening, generating potency and selectivity data to guide medicinal chemistry decisions. This hands‑on laboratory role reports to the Senior Vice President, Research and involves assay miniaturization, HTS campaigns and dose‑response profiling.

Qualifications

• BS in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry or a related field with 7+ years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience, or an MS with 5+ years.
• Direct, hands‑on experience developing and running AlphaScreen and/or AlphaLISA assays, including troubleshooting signal window and interference.
• Proficiency with liquid handlers and plate‑based workflows (e.g., i5 BIOMEK, Tempest or similar) and multimode plate readers capable of Alpha detection (e.g., EnVision, PHERAstar).
• Familiarity with high‑content imaging equipment such as the Operetta CLS.
• Strong data analysis skills including curve fitting and assay statistics (e.g., GraphPad Prism, Genedata Screener).
• Experience with cell culture and cell‑based drug screening assays.
• Excellent documentation practices in an electronic lab notebook.
• Proactive, transparent communicator who works independently day to day while collaborating with chemistry and biology teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and optimize biochemical binding assays, focusing on AlphaScreen/AlphaLISA proximity formats.
• Optimize assay conditions to deliver robust signal windows.
• Support cell‑based assays including mammalian cell culture and high‑content imaging.
• Miniaturize and transfer assays to 384- and 1536‑well formats for screening.
• Execute medium‑ to high‑throughput screening campaigns and dose‑response profiling.
• Identify and triage assay interference using counter‑screens and orthogonal formats.
• Manage compound and sample workflows and plate handling.
• Analyze, QC and report data in Scilligence; maintain ELN records.
• Write and maintain SOPs and assay reports; present results in team meetings.
• Qualify reagents with protein sciences and monitor lot‑to‑lot performance.

Skills

AlphaScreen/AlphaLISA assays

Liquid handling

Assay development

Data analysis

ELN documentation

Cell culture

Independent contributor

Cross-team collaboration

Education

BS in Biochemistry/Biology/Chemistry or related field (7+ years) or MS (5+ years)

Tools

i5 BIOMEK

Tempest

EnVision

PHERAstar

Operetta CLS

Job description

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. in South San Francisco is seeking an Associate Scientist I to develop, optimize and run biochemical binding assays (AlphaScreen/AlphaLISA).

You will own assays from reagent qualification through screening, generating potency and selectivity data to guide medicinal chemistry decisions. This hands‑on laboratory role reports to the Senior Vice President, Research and involves assay miniaturization, HTS campaigns and dose‑response profiling.