Scientist II, Lead Generation Biology

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. in San Diego seeks a Lead Generation Biologist to design, optimize, and execute complex biochemical and cell-based assays across discovery projects.

Establish robust assays in relevant cell systems and generate high-quality data to inform project decisions. You will communicate findings to biology and project teams, contribute to experimental strategy, and support cross-functional collaboration with disease biology.

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in scientific field with 4+ years in vitro pharmacology experience; CNS-focused assays and automation a plus
• MS/MA degree in scientific field with 2+ years of similar experience
• PhD in biology or related field preferred
• Ability to plan and execute experiments across multiple projects with minimal supervision

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, troubleshoot and run complex biochemical and cell-based assays across discovery projects
• Analyze concentration–response relationships and assay performance using quantitative pharmacology
• Perform molecular biology techniques (e.g., Western blotting, transient transfections) as needed
• Support assay transfer and external studies by coordinating with CROs and collaborators
• Collaborate with disease-biology scientists to translate questions into in vitro assay strategies
• Review related internal work and contribute to patent/publication prep when applicable
• Recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and data quality
• Stay current with literature, assay technologies, and internal best practices
• Document research with electronic records and report results to project teams

Skills

In vitro pharmacology

Data analysis

Laboratory automation

Assay development

Education

BS/BA in scientific field

MS/MA in scientific field

PhD in biology

Tools

Western blotting

Transient transfections

Job description

Who We Are:

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com , and follow the company on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and YouTube . ( *in collaboration with AbbVie )

About the Role:

An integral member of the Lead Generation Biology team that will design, optimize, execute, and troubleshoot complex biochemical and cell-based assays across multiple discovery projects. The role will have significant hands-on responsibility for establishing robust routine assays in biologically relevant cell systems, generating high-quality and reproducible data, and quantitatively analyzing and summarizing results to inform project decisions. The successful candidate will communicate findings and recommendations to biology and multidisciplinary project teams, contribute scientific insight to experimental strategy and next steps, and bring relevant subject matter expertise to the projects they support. The role works across a broad range of assay technologies/platforms and automated equipment in a collaborative and dynamic environment and contributes to process efficiency and research quality.

Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to):

• Independently develop, optimize, troubleshoot and routinely execute complex biochemical and cell-based assays to evaluate small molecules, peptides and antibodies from hit-to-lead up through development candidate selection
• Apply quantitative pharmacology and rigorous data-quality practices to analyze concentration-response relationships, assay performance, reproducibility, and biological relevance; recognize anomalous results, identify sources of variability, and recommend appropriate follow-up experiments
• Performs molecular biology techniques as needed to understand MOA, such as Western blotting and transient transfections, and other techniques as needed
• Support assay transfer and external studies with CROs or collaborators by executing internal bridging work, reviewing protocols and data, and troubleshooting technical issues
• Partner closely with disease-biology scientists and multidisciplinary project teams to translate biological questions and hypotheses into fit-for-purpose in vitro assay strategies and experimental plans
• Research other internal team's work/experiments relevant to target identification
• May participate in patent and publication preparation
• Continually provides recommendations to improve process efficiency and research quality
• Stay current with relevant scientific literature, disease biology, assay technologies, and internal best practices to inform assay design, optimization, and interpretation of results
• Research national and international guidance documentation in justification of analytical limits, acceptance criteria, testing parameters and method validation and execution
• Documents research and conducts work in a safe manner in accordance with company and departmental guidelines
• Maintain accurate electronic laboratory records, protocols, and data packages; analyze, summarize, and clearly communicate results, assay performance, technical risks, and recommended next experiments at biology and project-team meetings, using the data to contribute meaningfully to project decisions
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• BS/BA degree in scientific field and 4+ years of in vitro pharmacology experience; Preferred experience includes: primary cell culture, especially CNS, and related assay development, liquid handling automation and LIMS systems, and related in vitro assays OR
• MS/MA degree in scientific field and 2+ years of similar experience noted above OR
• PhD in biology or related field preferred and some experience similar experience noted above
• Works effectively across functions and builds productive scientific partnerships with disease-biology and project-team colleagues
• Independently plans and executes experiments while balancing routine assay delivery, assay optimization, and multiple project priorities
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data, translate experimental results into bi