Principal Scientist/ Associate Director, Translational Biology

ZipRecruiter; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 195,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative biopharmaceutical company is seeking a scientific leader to advance their translational biology program. This role involves leading early clinical development efforts, designing and executing translational studies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive scientific direction. The successful candidate will have a strong background in pharmacology and assay development, and will thrive in a fast-paced, data-driven environment. Join a passionate team committed to developing breakthrough therapies for genetic diseases and make a significant impact on patient lives.

Benefits

Flexible PTO

Performance Bonus

Equity

Health Benefits

Learning and Development Resources

Rapid Career Advancement

Collaborative Environment

Patient Engagement Events

Qualifications

• PhD with 6+ years in translational biology for small molecule drug development.
• Expertise in designing and executing ex vivo and in vivo studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead early clinical development of novel therapeutics and oversee assay development.
• Collaborate with teams to define biomarker strategies and dosing regimens.

Skills

Translational Biology

Pharmacology

Biochemical Assay Development

Cell-Based Assays

Data Analysis

Experimental Design

Communication Skills

Education

PhD in Pharmacology

PhD in Biochemistry

PhD in Cell Biology

Tools

Biological Sample Analysis

Enzyme Inhibition Assays

Cellular Imaging

Job description

Job Description

Company Background:

GondolaBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next- therapeutics for genetic diseases. Originally launched as BridgeBioX, a subsidiary of BridgeBio, GondolaBio secured $300M in private financing from external investors in 2024 and became an independent company within the BridgeBio ecosystem. The company aims to leverage cutting-edge biological research to create breakthrough medicines addressing high unmet needs across multiple therapeutic areas, including neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, nephrology, and endocrinology. Located on the Stanford Life Sciences campus, GondolaBio fosters a unique hybrid environment where top scientists from around the world collaborate with senior leadership and advisors, blending industry expertise with academic innovation.

To learn more, visit us at gondolabio.com

Who you are:

We're seeking an entrepreneurial scientific leader who combines intellectual rigor with practical execution skills to advance our translational biology program at Gondola Bio. You will serve as the scientific lead for early clinical development of a novel therapeutic. You approach science methodically, questioning data thoroughly while remaining open to new evidence that might challenge your thinking. You communicate clearly, take full ownership of your work, and know when to pursue scientific perfection versus making pragmatic progress. In this role, you'll lead our early clinical development efforts, overseeing internal assay development and translational biology strategy. You will also help drive scientific direction, preclinical dosing, and other pharmacology experiments. We maintain high standards for our team—we need scientists who deliver technical excellence while moving with the speed and adaptability required in a focused biotech environment where getting effective treatments to patients is our north star.

Requirements:

Ex Vivo & In Vivo Translational Study Design & Execution:

• Design, implement, and lead novel ex vivo and in vivo translational studies to evaluate small molecule inhibitor pharmacology, target engagement, efficacy, and safety.
• Develop and optimize cell-based assays based on literature precedent, adapting established methods to address our specific scientific questions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define pharmacodynamic biomarker strategies, dosing regimens, and readouts to accelerate clinical development.
• Independently lead study design and execution from concept to completion with minimal supervision.

Translational Assay Development:

• Establish and validate enzyme inhibition assays in physiologically relevant systems.
• Develop and implement cell-based and tissue-based assays to measure target engagement and functional outcomes.
• Create innovative approaches to measure compound efficacy in disease-relevant contexts.
• Work closely with medicinal chemistry and DMPK teams to establish structure-activity relationships and optimize lead compounds.

Sample Management & Analysis:

• Establish robust workflows for biological sample collection, processing, and analysis.
• Implement quality control standards ensuring data reliability and reproducibility.
• Lead design and execution of bioanalytical assays (e.g., enzyme activity assays, biochemical assays, cellular imaging, tissue analysis) to assess target engagement and pharmacodynamic effects.
• Integrate datasets across multiple platforms to draw meaningful conclusions about compound efficacy.

CRO Study Coordination & Oversight:

• Identify, evaluate, and manage CRO partnerships for specialized translational studies.
• Develop detailed study protocols and establish clear success criteria for external work.
• Serve as primary scientific liaison between internal teams and CROs to ensure study quality and timeline adherence.
• Critically evaluate external data and integrate findings into the broader development strategy.

Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Partner closely with medicinal chemistry, DMPK, research, clinical, and regulatory teams to translate preclinical findings into clinical strategies.
• Present data & findings to C-suite.
• Provide strategic insights to guide compound selection, development candidate nomination, and regulatory submissions.
• Mentor junior scientists in translational research methodologies and best practices.
• Represent translational biology in key decision-making forums and milestone reviews.

Education, Experience & Skills Requirements:

• PhD in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology or related field with 6+ years of industry experience in translational biology for small molecule drug development.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing ex vivo and in vivo studies to evaluate small molecule efficacy and mechanism of action.
• Track record of successfully developing novel cell-based and biochemical assays to answer specific drug development questions.
• Experience with enzyme inhibition assays and cellular models of enzyme dysregulation.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in biochemical and cell-based assay development, with particular focus on enzyme activity measurement.
• Strong understanding of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships for small molecules.
• Proficiency in experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of complex biological datasets.
• Experience with relevant disease models (experience with pancreatic disease models is a plus).

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Proven ability to work independently while maintaining strong cross-functional relationships.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strategic mindset with focus on critical path activities that accelerate development timelines.
• Comfort with fast-paced environment and ability to adapt quickly to evolving priorities.

What We Offer:

• Patient Days, where we are fortunate to hear directly from individuals living with the conditions we are seeking to impact throughout the year and learn how we can improve our efforts.
• A culture inspired by our values: put patients first, think independently, be radically transparent, every minute counts, and let the science speak.
• An unyielding commitment to always putting patients first. Learn more about how we do this here.
• A de-centralized model that enables our program teams to focus on advancing science and helping patients. Our affiliate structure is designed to eliminate bureaucracy and put decision-making power in the hands of those closest to the science.
• A place where you own the vision – both for your program and your own career path.
• A collaborative, fast-paced, data-driven environment where we inspire ourselves and each other to always perform at the top of our game.
• Access to learning and development resources to help you get in the best professional shape of your life.
• Robust and market-competitive compensation & benefits package (Base, Performance Bonus, Equity, health, welfare & retirement programs).
• Flexible PTO.
• Rapid career advancement for strong performers.
• Potential ability to work on multiple BridgeBio Pharma programs across multiple therapeutic areas over time.
• Partnerships with leading institutions.

At GondolaBio, we strive to provide a market-competitive total rewards package, including base pay, an annual performance bonus, company equity, and generous health benefits. Below is the anticipated salary range for candidates for this role who will work in California. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type, and length of experience within the industry, educational background, location of residence and performance during the interview process. GondolaBio is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions based in other states.

Compensation range: $195,000 - $215,000