Job Application for Senior Scientist – Applications, Drug Screening and Discovery at Element Biosciences

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At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Scientist to lead and advance our drug discovery and screening programs. This role will be instrumental in establishing and optimizing state-of-the-art screening platforms, with particular emphasis on optical pooled screening and spatial multiomics technologies. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking to drive innovation in target identification, validation, and therapeutic discovery. This role will report to the VP, Applications and will be a San Diego based role.

If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Lead design, development, and optimization of optical pooled screening platforms for large-scale functional genomics and drug discovery
Establish spatial multiomics workflows (transcriptomics, proteomics, imaging) to characterize drug mechanisms and disease biology
Develop and validate high-throughput, high-content screening assays and optimize CRISPR-based perturbation technologies
Design and execute screening campaigns to identify therapeutic targets and validate drug candidates
Integrate multi-omic datasets to drive biological insights and inform discovery strategy
Collaborate across disciplines to advance compounds and define mechanism of action, resistance, and biomarkers
Serve as a subject matter expert in optical pooled screening, spatial biology, and functional genomics
Evaluate and implement emerging screening technologies; contribute to strategic planning and technology investment
Represent the company externally, contribute to publications, and support IP filings
Analyze complex, high-dimensional screening and spatial profiling datasets
Build analytical pipelines and visualizations in partnership with computational biology teams, ensuring data quality and reproducibility
Partner with biology, chemistry, translational, and clinical teams to align screening strategies with program goals
Mentor junior scientists, communicate findings to diverse audiences, and foster a collaborative, high-excellence R&D environment

Education and Experience:

PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Pharmacology, Genomics, or related field
5–7+ years postdoctoral industry experience with demonstrated scientific leadership
Hands-on expertise in optical pooled screening and spatial multiomics (e.g., spatial transcriptomics or proteomics)
Strong background in high-throughput/high-content screening, CRISPR-based functional genomics, and complex assay development
Proven cross-functional collaboration in advancing drug discovery programs
Expert cell-based assay, cell biology, and molecular biology skills
Proficiency with high-content imaging and analysis; familiarity with automation and liquid handling
Solid understanding of drug discovery workflows from target ID to hit-to-lead
Bioinformatics/computational skills (R, Python); experience with single-cell and multi-omic data integration
Knowledge of machine learning in screening; experience with primary cells, organoids, or complex models
Strong publication and presentation record, with contributions to patents or novel methods
Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving and communication skills
Able to work independently and collaboratively with strong organizational and project management abilities
Committed to scientific rigor, data quality, and continuous learning

Physical Requirements:

Ability to lift to 20 pounds
The position requires physical activity associated with molecular biology routines and the handling of chemicals
Candidates are required to follow the safety protocols and be familiar with personal protective equipment (PPE) while working in the laboratory environment

Location:

San Diego – on-site

Travel:

Up to 5% - or as opportunity arises.

Job Type:

Full-time, Exempt

Base Compensation Pay Range:

$125,000 - $165,000

In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, discretionary annual bonus, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off.

Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience.

We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.

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Senior Scientist – Applications, Drug Screening and Discovery

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