Senior Computational Biophysicist, RNA Therapeutics

Eli Lilly and Company; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension

Health benefits

Well-being programs

Job summary

Lilly's RNA Therapeutics team in South San Francisco is seeking a computational biophysicist to build molecular dynamics and free-energy models of Ago2 guide‑strand complexes. You will use cryo‑EM, crystallography and biophysical data to predict how modification patterns affect loading and catalytic efficiency, guiding design decisions across siRNA programs.

You will work hands‑on as an individual contributor with potential to lead a team of senior computational scientists while collaborating

Qualifications

• PhD in biophysics, computational chemistry, chemical physics, structural biology or related STEM field.
• Five+ years running and analyzing molecular dynamics simulations of protein–nucleic acid systems.
• Experience with MD engines and free-energy methods (FEP, TI, umbrella sampling, metadynamics).

Responsibilities

• Model how modifications affect Ago2 guide‑strand loading and RISC catalytic efficiency.
• Run all‑atom and enhanced sampling simulations using cryo‑EM and SAXS data.
• Quantify energetics and dynamics of loading, nucleation, ejection and cleavage.
• Develop simulation pipelines and parameters for non‑natural nucleotides.
• Present findings to chemists and leadership; contribute to publications and patents.

Skills

Molecular dynamics simulations

Python

Free-energy methods

Education

PhD in biophysics, computational chemistry, chemical physics, structural biology or related STEM field

Tools

AMBER

GROMACS

NAMD

OpenMM

CHARMM

Job description

Lilly's RNA Therapeutics team in South San Francisco is seeking a computational biophysicist to build molecular dynamics and free-energy models of Ago2 guide‑strand complexes. You will use cryo‑EM, crystallography and biophysical data to predict how modification patterns affect loading and catalytic efficiency, guiding design decisions across siRNA programs.

You will work hands‑on as an individual contributor with potential to lead a team of senior computational scientists while collaborating