Senior Scientist, Bioinformatics

Kenai Therapeutics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Kenai Therapeutics seeks a senior scientist in bioinformatics to drive computational analysis and pipeline development for CMC and research programs. You will lead single-cell and multiomics analyses, applying advanced statistics and machine learning to generate actionable insights for therapeutic decision-making.

The ideal candidate communicates complex findings across disciplines and thrives in a fast-moving, collaborative environment within a small team, contributing to data infrastructure

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, statistics, or a related quantitative discipline; 3–5+ years of industry experience.
• Strong foundation in statistics and machine learning, including supervised and unsupervised methods.
• Hands-on experience with single-cell analysis frameworks (Scanpy, Seurat, scVI) across the full analytical lifecycle.
• Demonstrated experience supporting drug discovery and development with computational analyses.
• Proficiency with AI and large language model–based tools for research acceleration and software development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting complex work to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable pipelines for single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and multiomics data analysis.
• Apply statistical modeling and ML to identify biomarkers and characterize cellular heterogeneity.
• Leverage AI-based tools to accelerate research workflows and automate analyses.
• Interpret data across modalities and translate findings into actionable insights for programs and leadership.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and research teams to align computational efforts with therapeutic objectives.
• Contribute to data infrastructure strategy for robust data storage, integration, and traceability.
• Present results through internal talks and cross-functional meetings.

Skills

Statistics & ML fundamentals

Single-cell analysis

Programming (Python/R)

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in bioinformatics

Tools

Scanpy

Seurat

scVI

Python

R

Job description

Kenai Therapeutics is seeking a skilled and versatile computational biologist to join our highly collaborative, multidisciplinary, and dynamic team advancing next-generation allogeneic cell therapies for neurological diseases. As Senior Scientist of Bioinformatics, the ideal candidate will drive computational analysis and pipeline development across CMC and research programs. This candidate brings scientific rigor, deep hands-on expertise in single-cell and multiomics analysis, and a strong foundation in statistics and machine learning to generate actionable insights that inform therapeutic decision-making. This role requires exceptional technical skills, a proven ability to communicate complex findings across scientific disciplines, and a desire to thrive in a small, fast-moving organization where flexibility and initiative are essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, reproducible pipelines for single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and integrative multiomics data analysis, from raw data through biological interpretation
• Apply statistical modeling and machine learning approaches to large-scale omics datasets to identify biomarkers, characterize cellular heterogeneity, and aid process development
• Leverage AI-based tools and platforms to accelerate research workflows, automate analyses, and enhance software development productivity
• Perform complex data interpretation across modalities (scRNA-seq, genomics, spatial omics, proteomics) and translate findings into actionable insights for programs and leadership
• Partner closely with manufacturing and research teams to align computational efforts with therapeutic objectives and program priorities
• Contribute to data infrastructure strategy, supporting robust systems for data storage, integration, traceability, and long-term analytics
• Communicate results effectively through internal presentations, and cross-functional meetings; distill complex analyses into clear narratives for diverse audiences.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, statistics, or a related quantitative discipline with 3-5+ years of relevant industry experience
• Self-motivated, hardworking, and adaptable
• Strong foundation in statistics and machine learning, including supervised and unsupervised methods, dimensionality reduction, and model evaluation
• Deep hands-on experience with single-cell analysis frameworks (e.g., Scanpy, Seurat, scVI) and associated workflows across the full analytical lifecycle
• Demonstrated experience supporting drug discovery and development programs with computational and bioinformatic analyses
• Proficiency in utilizing AI and large language model-based tools for research acceleration and software development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical work to both computational and non-computational audiences
• Strong team player with a collaborative mindset and a commitment to working in a small, tight-knit, and high-performing team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in neuroscience, developmental biology, or related areas of disease biology
• Experience in cell therapy research, manufacturing analytics, or related cell-based therapeutic modalities
• Familiarity with spatial transcriptomics platforms (e.g., 10x Visium, Xenium, MERFISH) and integrative multiomics approaches
• Track record of scientific contributions evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, patents, or conference presentations

Kenai Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.