Remote Molecular Biologist for AI Target Verification

Mercor; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research organization to verify protein target assignments in large-scale bioactivity databases (ChEMBL, BindingDB). You will read primary literature, apply scientific judgment, and determine whether UniProt IDs accurately reflect the proteins being studied — work that directly feeds AI drug discovery pipelines.

Role details: 10–20 hrs/week, remote, immediate start, U.S. only, 1–2 month minimum with extension likely.

Qualifications

• BA/BS with 5+ years, MS with 2+ years, or PhD with relevant industry or drug discovery experience.
• Hands-on binding or functional assay experience (SPR, TR-FRET, radioligand binding, kinase assays, GPCR functional assays, IC50/Ki/KD).
• Currently bench-active in a research role.
• Fluency with UniProt workflows: SAR support, HTS, target validation, biochemical profiling, or IND-enabling studies.
• Nice to Have: Direct experience with ChEMBL, BindingDB or PubChem; selectivity profiling or counterscreening; familiarity with agonist/antagonist vs activator/inhibitor distinctions.

Responsibilities

• Verify protein target assignments against UniProt records using primary literature.
• Flag and classify target assignment errors using a structured taxonomy.
• Propose correct UniProt accessions where assignments are wrong.
• Write concise, evidence-grounded notes explaining reasoning.

Skills

Binding assays

UniProt workflows

Literature review

Biology knowledge

Education

BA/BS in relevant field

MS in related discipline

PhD in pharmacology/biochemistry/biomedical field

Tools

SPR

TR-FRET

Radioligand binding

Kinase assays

GPCR assays

Job description

Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research organization to verify protein target assignments in large-scale bioactivity databases (ChEMBL, BindingDB). You will read primary literature, apply scientific judgment, and determine whether UniProt IDs accurately reflect the proteins being studied — work that directly feeds AI drug discovery pipelines.

Role details: 10–20 hrs/week, remote, immediate start, U.S. only, 1–2 month minimum with extension likely.