Translational Drug Discovery Scientist — Biomarker & MOA

Algen Biotechnologies; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Algen Biotechnologies seeks a hands‑on Scientist to advance drug discovery programs through biochemical, cell‑based, and mechanistic assays. You will work closely with medicinal chemistry and cross‑functional teams to connect compound activity with target biology and translational readouts.

The role emphasizes bench work, assay development, and generating high‑quality data to inform hit identification, lead optimization, and development candidate selection. PhD with industry experience preferred.

Qualifications

• PhD with 2–3 years industry experience or MS/BS with 5–6 years industry experience in hands‑on drug discovery biology.
• Experience developing and executing biochemical and cell‑based assays from hit identification through lead optimization.
• Experience developing target‑engagement or pharmacodynamic biomarker assays and supporting preclinical sample analysis.
• Experience working with medicinal chemists to generate/interpret SAR data.
• Strong mammalian cell culture skills and assay troubleshooting.
• Experience using ELNs and data repositories to document experiments and links between compounds, assays, and data.

Responsibilities

• Optimize, troubleshoot, and execute biochemical and cell‑based assays to assess potency, selectivity, target engagement, and mechanism of action.
• Develop and implement screening and profiling assays through hit identification to lead optimization, generating SAR data.
• Build robust assay cascades with controls to distinguish on‑target activity from interference and cytotoxicity.
• Conduct mechanistic studies linking target modulation to signaling and cellular readouts.
• Support translational studies with biomarker assay development and analysis of samples.
• Contribute to preclinical study planning and ex vivo sample analysis to connect exposure and biology.
• Support assay transfer and CRO collaborations with protocol prep and data review.
• Document experiments in ELNs and maintain traceable data links between compounds and results.

Skills

Drug discovery

Assay development

Translational science

Mammalian cell culture

ELN data management

Data interpretation

Study design

Education

PhD with 2–3 years biotech/pharma industry

MS/BS with 5–6 years biotech/pharma industry

Tools

ELN software

Centralized data repositories

Flow cytometry

Immunoblotting

ELISA

qPCR

Imaging

Job description

Algen Biotechnologies seeks a hands‑on Scientist to advance drug discovery programs through biochemical, cell‑based, and mechanistic assays. You will work closely with medicinal chemistry and cross‑functional teams to connect compound activity with target biology and translational readouts.

The role emphasizes bench work, assay development, and generating high‑quality data to inform hit identification, lead optimization, and development candidate selection. PhD with industry experience preferred.