Senior Director, Alzheimer's Target Discovery

Arcinstitute; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 264,000 - 326,000; Full time

Job summary

Arc Institute, based in Palo Alto, seeks a Senior Director of Disease Biology to lead target discovery through preclinical development for the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative. This role builds a new team, directs in vivo and cellular models, and collaborates with computational centers to validate targets and prioritize candidates.

The role demands senior leadership, a strong genetics and neurobiology background, and the ability to drive IND-enabling studies while aligning programs across

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, immunology, cell biology, genetics, pharmacology, or a related field is required.
• Extensive experience leading target discovery in neurodegeneration from disease biology and human genetics through validation.
• Track record advancing programs from validated target to lead optimization and IND enabling studies.
• Deep expertise in developing or applying advanced 3D cellular models of neurodegenerative disease.
• Proven people leadership, building new teams and running cross-functional programs.
• Strong partnership with computational biology and machine learning teams for target discovery.
• Experience in a fast-paced biotech or nonprofit research institute environment.
• Ability to work onsite in Palo Alto at least four days per week.

Responsibilities

• Build a new team to carry targets through drug discovery into preclinical programs.
• Guide programs to lead optimization, generating in vitro and in vivo proof of concept data.
• Lead target discovery translating genetics and disease mapping into targets.
• Lead existing in vivo and in vitro ADI discovery teams to sharpen target validation.
• Partner with computational biology and ML teams to surface pathway insights and test hypotheses.
• Align priorities across discovery and preclinical teams for coordinated programs.
• Coordinate across the Arc community to deepen understanding of Alzheimer's biology.
• Manage CRO and external partner relationships to advance model generation and studies.
• Represent discovery and preclinical strategy in cross-functional portfolio reviews.

Skills

Team leadership

Target discovery

Neurodegeneration

In vivo models

In vitro models

3D cellular models

Genetics data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in neuroscience, immunology, cell biology, genetics, pharmacology, or related field

Job description

Arc Institute, based in Palo Alto, seeks a Senior Director of Disease Biology to lead target discovery through preclinical development for the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative. This role builds a new team, directs in vivo and cellular models, and collaborates with computational centers to validate targets and prioritize candidates.

The role demands senior leadership, a strong genetics and neurobiology background, and the ability to drive IND-enabling studies while aligning programs across