Senior Scientist, DMPK

Centessa Pharmaceuticals; United States; On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Health and wellness program

Job summary

Centessa Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Senior Scientist in Discovery DMPK to collaborate with pharmacologists and medicinal chemists. This role focuses on identifying lead candidates with optimal DMPK properties, requiring expertise in pharmacokinetics and ADME principles. Candidates should possess a Ph.D. and have extensive experience in PK modeling, particularly for CNS drugs. The position offers remote work within the US, competitive salary ranging from $160,000 to $180,000, and a comprehensive benefits package including equity participation.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of industry experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting.
• Collaborative mindset and sense of urgency.
• Strong problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design profiling strategies for ADME assays.
• Analyze PK and PK/PD data for studies.
• Represent the DMPK function in project team meetings.

Skills

PK and PK/PD modeling

CNS drug candidates

Analytical skills

Proactive communication

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology or a related field

Tools

Phoenix WinNonlin

Job description

About the Company

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: CNTA) is a new kind of pharmaceutical company with a deconstructed R&D environment that prioritizes data‑driven decision making led by subject matter experts. Centessa is advancing a portfolio of high‑conviction programs with strong biological validation. Our asset‑centric model offers a unique R&D logic that has been applied by single‑asset companies to improve productivity. This operating model has minimal centralized infrastructure, reduced hierarchy, and exclusive focus on data‑driven capital allocation. Our teams are uniquely incentivized to interrogate key scientific hypotheses expeditiously. We believe the asset‑centric model can lead to improved success rates for programs with greater speed and modest costs.

Description of Role

We are seeking a Senior Scientist in Discovery DMPK to partner with pharmacologists and medicinal chemists to support the identification of lead candidates with optimal DMPK properties for potential progression into development. Reporting to the Executive Director, DMPK, this role requires understanding of pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic (PK/PD), and ADME principles to enable triaging & progression of small molecule leads.

A qualified candidate will have previous experience in PK and PK/PD modeling, ideally for CNS drug candidates, and an understanding of vital ADME properties for CNS drug candidate progression.

Key Responsibilities

• Design profiling strategies (including in vitro ADME assays) to evaluate compounds and series emerging from hit identification effort
• Design PK/PD strategies to advance lead identification and optimization series
• Protocol development and data analysis of PK and PK/PD studies for proof‑of‑concept studies
• Review statements of work (SOWs) to ensure alignment with project objectives
• Analyze and interpret in vitro and in vivo PK and PK/PD data, ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Utilize AI tools in prediction of PK properties and guide the use of such technology in supporting SAR development in lead identification and optimization phases
• Author and review compound checklists for drug candidate progression
• Represent the DMPK function in project team meetings; present results and contribute to data‑driven decision‑making

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology or a related field
• Minimum of 4 years of industry experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting
• Proficiency with Phoenix WinNonlin and other software for PK and PK/PD modeling in small molecule drug discovery
• Previous work in the early discovery and lead optimization of CNS drug candidates
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work cross‑functionally and communicate scientific findings clearly and effectively
• Collaborative mindset and sense of urgency
• Proactive and excellent communication skills

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000. Compensation within this range will be determined based on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and job knowledge. In addition to base pay, the role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and participation in our equity program. Centessa also offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 401(k) plan, company‑sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program.

Work Location

The Sr. Scientist, DMPK is a remote role based in the US, with infrequent travel (~10%).

Position Details

Full‑Time, Exempt.

EEOC Statement

Centessa Pharmaceuticals believes in a diverse environment and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Centessa Pharmaceuticals will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Please note: We will not assign referral rights for any unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.