Scientist II, Functional Bioassays & High Throughput Screening

Generate Biomedicines; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Generate:Biomedicines is seeking a Scientist II for the Functional Bioassays team in Somerville, MA, to develop, optimize, and execute functional assays across the portfolio. This hands-on role focuses on high-quality data generation to guide protein design and program decisions, including AI/ML-enabled design cycles.

You will design, optimize, and troubleshoot cell-based and biochemical assays, execute HTS campaigns, and collaborate across Therapeutics, Technology, and cross-functional programs

Qualifications

• PhD in cell biology, pharmacology, immunology, biochemistry, bioengineering, molecular biology, or related discipline with ~2+ years industry/postdoc, or MS with ~5+ years, or BS with ~7+ years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, optimize, and implement high-throughput, cell-based and biochemical assays; integrate automation where appropriate.
• Plan and execute HTS campaigns in 384- or 1536-well formats with appropriate controls.
• Analyze results and communicate findings to inform AI/ML-enabled design cycles and program decisions.
• Support multiple therapeutic programs; troubleshoot assay performance and workflows in collaboration with senior scientists and Automation teams.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare clear summaries for program updates and cross-functional meetings.

Job description

The Functional Bioassays team is seeking a Scientist II to develop, optimize, and execute functional assays across Generate’s therapeutic portfolio. This bench-focused role will generate high-quality data to guide protein design and program decisions, including AI/ML-enabled design cycles.

The scientist will design, optimize, and troubleshoot biochemical and cell-based assays; execute high-throughput screening campaigns; analyze results; and support automation integration across programs. Work may include ion-channel, GPCR, ADC-related, and other functional assay platforms as portfolio needs evolve.

Approximately 80–90% of this role will be laboratory-based. The scientist will collaborate with colleagues across Therapeutics, Technology, and cross-functional program teams to deliver well-controlled data for iterative design-build-test-learn cycles.

This role is suited to a hands-on scientist with experience in functional assay development and high-throughput screening who can take ownership of experiments, communicate results clearly, and adapt to changing program needs.

Here’s how you will contribute:

• Design, optimize, and implement high-throughput screening-compatible cell-based and biochemical assays, integrating automation where appropriate.
• Plan and execute plate-based high-throughput screening campaigns, analyze results, and interpret experimental datasets.
• Communicate findings to program teams to inform AI/ML-enabled design cycles, program decisions, and therapeutic optimization.
• Support high-throughput functional assay work across multiple therapeutic programs, with potential focus areas including ion channels, GPCRs, and ADC-related assays.
• Apply and expand expertise in novel functional assay technologies, including ion-channel and GPCR assays, as program needs evolve.
• Conduct experiments with attention to detail, scientific rigor, and adherence to established protocols.
• Troubleshoot assay performance, instrumentation, reagents, and workflows in partnership with senior scientists and Automation colleagues.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized records in electronic laboratory notebooks and other data systems.
• Prepare clear summaries of results for team discussions, program updates, and cross-functional meetings.
• Coordinate experiments with colleagues across Functional Bioassays, Automation, Biology, Protein Sciences, Data Science, and program teams.
• Follow laboratory safety practices, sample-handling requirements, data-integrity expectations, and Generate’s scientific standards.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• PhD in cell biology, pharmacology, immunology, biochemistry, bioengineering, molecular biology, or a related discipline, with approximately 2+ years of industry or postdoctoral experience; or MS with approximately 5+ years of relevant industry or academic research experience; or BS with approximately 7+ years of relevant industry or academic research experience.
• Hands‑on experience with cell‑based, biochemical, and functional assays in an academic, biotech, pharmaceutical, or related research setting.
• Strong technical foundation in mammalian cell culture and plate‑based assay workflows.
• Experience with plate‑based assay technologies such as ELISA, HTRF, AlphaLISA, luminescence or fluorescence assays, flow cytometry, or similar methods.
• Experience designing, optimizing, and executing high‑throughput screening in 384‑ or 1536‑well formats for small molecules, biologics, or both, with appropriate controls and replicates, sound data quality, and clear documentation.
• Ability to recognize assay‑performance or data‑quality issues, investigate likely causes, and contribute to troubleshooting.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, matrixed research environment where priorities may shift across programs.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple experiments or workstreams.
• Ability to analyze and present data at scale using tools such as Spotfire, Dotmatics, ScreenWorks, Harmony, iQue Forecyt, or similar platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize results, observations, and next steps clearly.
• Collaborative working style, accountability, curiosity, and adaptability when learning new assay formats, therapeutic areas, and technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ion‑channel assays or related functional readouts, such as patch clamp, membrane‑potential, thallium‑flux assays, or electrophysiology workflows.
• Experience with GPCR assays, including reporter, calcium‑flux, cAMP, IP‑one, beta‑arrestin, or other pathway‑based functional assays.
• Experience with ADC, image‑based internalization, targeted protein degradation, immune‑cell, or cytotoxicity assay formats.
• Experience with organoid‑based screening workflows.
• Experience working with primary cells, engineered cell lines, or stable cell‑line generation.
• Experience with laboratory automation systems such as HighRes, Beckman Biomek i5/i7, Hamilton, EL406, Multidrop, or equivalent liquid‑handling platforms.
• Interest in applying functional biology to AI/ML‑enabled therapeutic discovery.

Who Will Love This Job:

This is an opportunity to join Generate’s Functional Bioassays team at a time of significant portfolio growth. As a Scientist II, you will play a hands‑on role generating functional data that advances new therapeutic programs and supports rapid design‑build‑test‑learn cycles. You will work on diverse biology, learn new assay platforms, collaborate across disciplines, and build expertise in assay development, high‑throughput screening, automation, and drug discovery in a highly collaborative 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.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies

Generate:Biomedicines does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Generate:Biomedicines or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by the Company’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Generate:Biomedicines and the Company will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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.