Scientist I/II, Functional Genomics

Xaira Therapeutics, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Xaira Therapeutics, Inc. is seeking an experienced Scientist I/II to lead organoid model development for functional genomics and CRISPR screening. You will work at the intersection of organoid biology, AI/ML, and translational research to advance our drug discovery platform.

The role blends strategic leadership with hands-on contribution, mentoring junior staff, and driving cross-functional collaborations to accelerate program milestones in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience developing and maintaining organoid model systems.
• Experience with CRISPR perturbation approaches in organoid models.
• Experience adapting organoid systems to high-throughput screening formats.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and scale organoid-based model systems for high-throughput CRISPR screening.
• Optimize organoid culture, maintenance, and characterization across tissues.
• Drive innovative workflows and screening methodologies for organoid systems.
• Collaborate with computational biology, AI/ML, and drug discovery teams to analyze large-scale data.
• Mentor junior staff and manage multiple projects; contribute to cross-functional milestones.
• Lead cross-functional collaborations to accelerate program milestones.

Skills

Organoid model development

CRISPR perturbation

High-throughput screening

Python/R data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, or related field

Tools

Python

R

Job description

Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Scientist I/II to lead our efforts in organoid model development for functional genomics and CRISPR screening. In this role, you will help advance our mission to pioneer biological discoveries through high-throughput functional genomics, working at the intersection of organoid biology, data science, AI/ML, and translational research. This position is ideal for a seasoned discovery scientist who can balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical contributions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and scale organoid-based model systems to support high-throughput CRISPR screening and uncover genotype-phenotype relationships at scale.
• Establish and optimize protocols for organoid culture, maintenance, and characterization across relevant tissue types, ensuring robustness and reproducibility for screening applications.
• Drive continuous innovation in experimental workflows and screening methodologies within organoid systems.
• Partner with computational biology, AI/ML, and drug discovery teams to analyze, interpret, visualize, and communicate findings from large-scale functional genomics datasets.
• Identify and resolve challenges in data generation, including assay reproducibility, sample throughput, and quality control.
• Independently manage multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality data and adherence to team goals.
• Maintain accurate records of experiments, protocols, and findings, contributing to internal and external scientific presentations.
• Mentor junior staff and research associates, fostering their scientific and professional growth through active technical guidance and career development.
• Lead strategic project planning and long-term program development initiatives to ensure alignment with broader therapeutic discovery goals.
• Independently drive and oversee complex cross-functional collaborations with internal and external partners to accelerate program milestones.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, or a related field with 0-4 years of industry or postdoctoral research experience.
• Strong hands-on experience developing and maintaining organoid model systems (e.g., patient-derived, iPSC-derived, or tissue-derived organoids), including culture optimization, passaging, and characterization.
• Experience with CRISPR-based genetic perturbation approaches (e.g., lentiviral or AAV delivery) in complex 3D or organoid model systems.
• Familiarity with methods for adapting organoid systems to high-throughput screening formats, including relevant automation or miniaturization approaches.
• Ability to troubleshoot technical issues, adapt to new protocols, and optimize methodologies for organoid-based applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of presenting complex scientific results to multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated success in working collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with perturb-seq, single-cell genomics, or spatial omics, and interest in exploring new readout methods.
• Experience in data analysis using Python or R.
• Experience in in vivo or in vitro CRISPR screening more broadly, beyond organoid systems.

Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity. The base pay range for this position is expectedto be $110,000 - $155,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.

Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.