Senior Director, Functional Genomics & Organoid Systems Biology

Tempus AI, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Tempus AI, Inc. in Chicago seeks a Senior Director, Functional Genomics & Organoid Systems Biology to lead its PDO biology platform, driving wet-lab strategy and integrating with computational data to uncover therapeutic opportunities.

You will build and mentor a multidisciplinary team, oversee CRISPR and drug screening in patient-derived organoids, partner with clinical and data science teams, and shape the scientific vision for translational oncology.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of industry and/or academic experience with substantial leadership.
• Deep expertise in cancer biology, functional genomics, and target discovery.
• Experience leading CRISPR screening programs and large-scale functional biology initiatives.
• Hands-on experience with patient-derived organoids or ex vivo models.
• Track record translating biological insights into therapeutic hypotheses or drug discovery programs.
• Experience mentoring multidisciplinary scientific teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term scientific strategy for PDO screening and target discovery.
• Oversee large-scale CRISPR screening campaigns and drug screening in PDO models.
• Lead development of next-generation functional assays with co-culture and immune components.
• Establish rigorous experimental standards, quality systems, and scalable workflows.

Skills

Leadership

CRISPR screening

Organoid biology

Functional genomics

Team mentoring

Education

PhD/MD in Cancer Biology

Job description

Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time. We are seeking an exceptional Senior Director, Functional Genomics & Organoid Systems Biology to lead and expand our patient-derived organoid (PDO) biology platform. This leader will drive the wet lab component of our systems biology team, and will help define how this experimental layer will combine with computational approaches and the massive multimodal Tempus data layer to unlock new biological insights. This leader will oversee a multidisciplinary team of scientists and research associates responsible for executing large-scale functional screens—including CRISPR-based genetic perturbation screens, drug sensitivity screens, single-cell and spatial technologies, and combination therapy studies—in clinically annotated patient-derived organoid models. The successful candidate will define and drive the scientific vision for leveraging PDOs to validate hypotheses generated from Tempus' unique real-world clinico-genomic data assets. Working closely with computational scientists, machine learning researchers, translational scientists, and clinical teams, this individual will establish an integrated discovery engine that translates patient data into experimentally validated therapeutic opportunities. This is a highly visible leadership role that combines scientific strategy, organizational leadership, platform development, and translational research to identify novel targets, biomarkers, and therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. This position is based in Tempus’ Chicago lab: hybrid or remote candidates will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term scientific strategy for functional screening and target discovery using patient-derived organoid models.
• Establish a world-class organoid-based discovery platform capable of validating hypotheses generated from large-scale multimodal patient datasets.
• Serve as a scientific thought leader internally and externally, representing the company through publications, presentations, and strategic collaborations.
• Oversee the design, execution, and interpretation of large-scale CRISPR screening campaigns, including knockout, activation, interference, and pooled screening approaches.
• Lead drug screening efforts across diverse PDO models to identify therapeutic sensitivities, resistance mechanisms, and rational drug combinations.
• Drive development of next-generation functional assays incorporating co-culture systems, immune components, and emerging technologies.
• Establish rigorous experimental standards, quality systems, and reproducible workflows across the screening platform.
• Ensure efficient scaling of laboratory operations to support discovery and translational research objectives.
• Partner closely with computational biology and data science teams to prioritize hypotheses arising from real-world patient data.
• Create an iterative discovery framework in which computational predictions are experimentally tested and experimental findings inform subsequent computational analyses.
• Collaborate with clinical, molecular profiling, and translational research teams to connect experimental findings with patient outcomes and therapeutic hypotheses.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of scientists, research associates, and laboratory personnel.
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Recruit top-tier talent across functional genomics, organoid biology, and translational oncology.
• Establish clear goals, development plans, and performance expectations for team members.
• Manage departmental budgets, resource allocation, and strategic planning.

Required Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Functional Genomics, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant industry and/or academic experience, including substantial leadership experience.
• Deep expertise in cancer biology, functional genomics, and target discovery.
• Demonstrated experience leading CRISPR-based screening programs and large-scale functional biology initiatives.
• Hands-on experience with patient-derived organoids, ex vivo models, or other clinically relevant disease model systems.
• Track record of translating biological insights into therapeutic hypotheses, biomarkers, or drug discovery programs.
• Experience managing and mentoring multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Strong publication and/or patent record demonstrating scientific impact.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence across scientific and executive stakeholders.

CHI: $190,000 - $270,000

The expected salary range above is applicable if the role is performed from Illinois and may vary for other locations (California, Colorado, New York).

Actual salary may vary based on qualifications and experience.

Tempus offers a full range of benefits, which may include incentive compensation, restricted stock units, medical and other benefits depending on the position.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Tempus was founded in August of 2015 by Eric Lefkofsky, after his wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Shortly after he founded the company in an effort to bring the power of technology and artificial intelligence to cancer care, he convinced Ryan Fukushima to join as the company’s first employee. Ryan and Eric began assembling a world class team, focused on building the first version of a platform capable of ingesting real time healthcare data in an effort to personalize diagnostics.

We built the platform for oncology and have expanded it to neuropsychiatry, cardiology, infectious disease (through COVID), and radiology. Despite our rapid growth, our mission remains the same—to help make sure patients are on the right drug at the right time, so they can live longer and healthier lives. We’re looking for people who can change the world. Who question the status quo and don’t shy away from tough problems. For the builders who are never done building and the learners who are never done learning. We’re looking for passionate people with undying curiosity. Those who want to attack one of the most challenging problems mankindhasever faced. Headon.