Scientist I, Oncology

Generate Biomedicines; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Generate:Biomedicines is seeking a Scientist I with expertise in cancer biology to support discovery and development of protein-based oncology therapeutics. This highly laboratory-focused role will plan and execute cellular assays, interpret results, and generate reproducible data to inform project decisions.

As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will establish cell lines, perform genetic editing, and collaborate across functions while maintaining rigorous documentation and staying current

Qualifications

• PhD in cancer biology, cell biology, immunology, immuno-oncology, or related field with 0–2 years experience; or Master's with six years experience; or Bachelor's with eight years experience; or eleven years experience.
• Strong foundation in cancer biology and hands-on mammalian cell culture expertise.
• Hands-on experience with in vivo tumor models (xenograft, PDX, or syngeneic) including tumor growth and biomarker assessment.
• Experience with cell line engineering and standard molecular biology/biochemistry techniques (cloning, PCR/RT-qPCR, Western blot).
• Experience developing and troubleshooting quantitative cell-based assays (cytotoxicity, viability, internalization).
• Proficiency in flow cytometry and measuring proteins/cytokines with ELISA/AlphaLISA/MSD.
• Ability to independently plan experiments, use proper controls, analyze quantitative data, and recommend follow-up studies.
• Experience communicating findings and collaborating in a multidisciplinary project team.

Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and characterize cancer cell lines, tumor organoids, and primary cells to support target validation and therapeutic evaluation.
• Generate and validate engineered cell lines using transfection, transduction, and CRISPR-based editing to modulate target expression or reporters.
• Design, execute, and troubleshoot assays of cell viability, proliferation, cytotoxicity, target binding, and receptor/antibody internalization.
• Apply flow cytometry, live-cell imaging, plate-based assays, and immunoassays (ELISA, AlphaLISA, MSD) to characterize therapeutic activity and mechanism.
• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings, recommending next steps for project decisions.
• Collaborate with Automation, Computational Sciences, Protein Sciences, and high-throughput screening to advance goals.
• Maintain complete and accurate experimental records and stay current with oncology/biologics advances.

Skills

Cancer biology

Mammalian cell culture

Flow cytometry

Assay development

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in cancer biology or related field

Master's with 6 years experience

Bachelor's with 8+ years experience

Tools

CRISPR editing

Transfection

Western blotting

PCR/RT-qPCR

ELISA/AlphaLISA/MSD

Job description

Generate:Biomedicines is seeking a Scientist I with expertise in cancer biology to support the discovery and development of protein-based oncology therapeutics. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, this individual will plan and execute cellular assays, interpret results, and generate reproducible data that inform project decisions. This highly laboratory-focused role requires sound scientific judgment, rigorous documentation, and effective collaboration. The core focus will be oncology, with opportunities for a curious scientist to expand their drug discovery and development experience across other therapeutic areas as project needs evolve.

Here’s how you will contribute:

• Establish, maintain, and characterize cancer cell lines, tumor organoids, and primary cells, including cells from primary human tumor samples, to support target validation and therapeutic evaluation.
• Generate and validate engineered cell lines using approaches such as transfection, transduction, and CRISPR-based editing to modulate target expression or introduce assay reporters.
• Design, execute, and troubleshoot assays of cell viability, proliferation, cytotoxicity, target binding, and receptor or antibody internalization, including tumor and immune cell co-cultures where appropriate.
• Apply flow cytometry, live-cell imaging, plate-based assays, and immunoassays such as ELISA, AlphaLISA, and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD), together with molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, to characterize therapeutic activity and mechanism of action.
• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings, recommending next steps that support project decisions and pipeline progression.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners in Automation, Computational Sciences, Protein Sciences, and High-Throughput Screening to advance shared project goals.
• Maintain complete and accurate experimental records and stay current with relevant advances in oncology, immuno-oncology, and biologics research.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• Ph.D. in cancer biology, cell biology, immunology, immuno-oncology, or a related field with 0-2 years experience; or a master’s degree in a related field with six years of relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related field with eight years of relevant experience; or eleven years of relevant experience.
• Strong foundation in cancer biology and hands-on mammalian cell culture expertise, including work with cancer cell lines and primary cells.
• Hands-on experience with in vivo tumor models, such as xenograft, patient-derived xenograft (PDX), or syngeneic models, including assessment of tumor growth, treatment response, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers.
• Experience with cell line engineering and standard molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, such as cloning, PCR/RT-qPCR, and Western blotting.
• Experience developing and troubleshooting quantitative cell-based assays, including cytotoxicity, viability, or internalization assays.
• Proficiency in flow cytometry and experience measuring proteins or cytokines using platforms such as ELISA, AlphaLISA, or MSD.
• Ability to independently plan experiments, select appropriate controls, analyze and interpret quantitative data, and recommend follow-up studies.
• Experience communicating scientific findings and collaborating within a multidisciplinary project team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with tumor organoids, primary human tumor samples, or other patient-derived ex vivo models.
• Experience characterizing antibodies, multispecific proteins, or antibody conjugates in oncology, ideally in an industry setting.
• Experience with tumor and immune cell co-cultures, high-content or live-cell imaging, high-throughput screening, or machine learning-enabled drug discovery.

What Will Help You Thrive:

• Scientific curiosity and rigor; the ability to solve moderately complex experimental problems with sound judgment; clear written and verbal communication; and a collaborative, flexible approach in a fast-paced environment

About Generate Biomedicines

We are a clinical-stage generative biology company pioneering the AI revolution in drug design and development. We are advancing a new approach to drug creation—one grounded in the ability to design proteins with defined biological intent. By integrating machine learning with large-scale experimentation, this approach aims to reduce the uncertainty, time, and cost associated with developing protein-based medicines.

Founded in 2018, we are advancing a growing pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs across multiple disease areas and protein modalities. By unifying computational design and clinical development within a single operating model, we translate this approach into clinical-stage programs and are leading a shift from traditional drug discovery toward systematic drug generation.

At Generate:Biomedicines, we collaborate across disciplines in new ways to invent and innovate. We bring diverse perspectives to a shared goal of delivering better medicines to patients in need, faster, guided by our values and leadership behaviors.

Generate:Biomedicines is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Compensation:

The base salary range provided reflects our current estimate of what we anticipate paying for this position. Your actual base salary will be based on several factors, including job-related skills, experience, internal equity, relevant education or training, and market dynamics. In addition, you will be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and a competitive benefits package.