Scientist III Biological Science

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with match

Parental leave

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Scientist III to independently design, execute, and interpret biochemical and cellular assays in support of drug discovery. You will develop primary screening assays for small molecules, study mechanisms of action, and collaborate to optimize workflows to shorten the DMTA cycle time.

The role emphasizes mentorship and CRO coordination within a cross-disciplinary team, with responsibilities spanning data analysis, documentation, and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biological Sciences or related field.
• 5+ years (Bachelor) or 3+ years (Master) of relevant lab experience.
• Advanced knowledge of biochemical, molecular, and cellular techniques.
• Strong data analysis and data documentation background.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced research environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with biologists, biochemists, and medicinal chemists to deliver high-quality data for programs.
• Develop and optimize novel assays to determine mechanism of action of small molecules.
• Maintain and calibrate lab equipment for precision and reproducibility.
• Manage CRO partner experiments as needed.
• Follow safety and quality control procedures.

Skills

Biochemical assays

Molecular biology

Cellular biology

Data analysis

Data documentation

Multitasking

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biological Sciences or related field

Tools

Liquid handling automation platforms

Job description

Job Description

Scientist III is responsible for independently designing, executing, and interpreting biochemical and/or cellular assays to support drug discovery initiatives while working within a cross-disciplinary team environment. The successful candidate will develop and perform primary screening assays for small molecules, perform mechanisms of action studies and/or be responsible for collaborating with stakeholders to troubleshoot innovative workflows and protocols to integrate new technologies to optimize or reduce Design, Make, Test, Analyze (DMTA) cycle time. While primarily serving as an individual contributor, the ideal candidate will also foster a cohesive team environment by managing CRO activities and/or providing mentorship and training to scientists within their areas of expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with biologists, biochemists, and medicinal chemists to deliver high quality data to progress research stage programs
• Independently develop and optimize novel assays to determine the mechanism of action of small molecules
• Maintain and calibrate lab equipment to ensure experimental precision and data reproducibility
• Manage experiments with CRO partners as needed
• Follow all safety and quality control procedures

Data Analysis and Documentation (25%)

• Analyze experimental data and summarize key findings
• Track and record experiments and data in E-notebooks and LIMS database
• Generate reports and create presentations as required by the organization

Collaboration & Support (15%)

• Work in a cross-functional team environment to achieve shared goals in support of ongoing research projects
• Provide technical assistance to senior scientists and project leads
• Mentor and train scientists within area of expertise
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biological Sciences or related field
• Minimum of 5+ years for bachelor’s and 3+ years for Master’s of relevant laboratory experience in the biotech or pharma industry
• Advanced knowledge of biochemical, molecular, and cellular biology techniques
• Strong background in data analysis and data documentation
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced research environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in managing or analyzing research conducted using CRO partners
• Experience using liquid handling automation platforms
• Clearly communicate work in both written and spoken forms

Additional Information

Deciphera is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary pay range for this role is $90,000-$124,000. Actual compensation packages will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to depth of experience, education, skillset, overall performance and/or location.

Deciphera believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package to all employees. Our base salary is just one component of Deciphera’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes annual performance bonus, a long-term incentive plan, full range of benefits and other incentive compensation plans (if applicable)

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and more.
• Generous parental leave and family planning benefits.
• Outstanding culture and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Equal Employment Opportunity Information

Deciphera is committed to equal employment opportunity and values diversity. To help us meet reporting requirements, we invite you to complete the confidential survey at the end of this application. Providing this information is entirely optional. It will not be used in the hiring process and will have no impact on your opportunity for employment. The information will be treated confidentially. Deciphera is committed to making all hiring and employment decisions fairly and on a non-discriminatory basis.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION

Deciphera is committed to equal employment opportunity and values diversity. To ensure that we comply with reporting requirements, we invite you complete the confidential survey at the end of this application. Providing this information is optional. It will not be accessible or used in the hiring process, and has no effect on your opportunity for employment. This information will also be treated confidentially. We are committed to make all hiring decisions and other employment decisions on a non-discriminatory basis.