Senior / Principal Scientist, Ophthalmology

The Opportunity

The heart of insitro's strategy is to combine genetic and health information from large numbers of humans with biological information obtained in vitro to overcome key bottlenecks in the drug discovery process. To accomplish this, we are using cutting edge methods in machine learning linked to the systematic discovery of novel therapeutic molecules. We are putting together an incredible team of highly talented translational scientists who want to make a difference to some of society's most pressing medical needs.

As a Principal Scientist, Ophthalmology, you will help build and expand the company's portfolio in ophthalmology. You will help set the therapeutic area strategy and develop and execute mid/high throughput biochemical/cellular assays, conduct cell-based mechanism-of-action studies, and explore novel models to advance early drug targets through our pipeline. You will work within a team of multidisciplinary scientists, incl. automation, software and machine learning engineers to enable technological advances for target validation and prosecution toward drug development goals. We value a highly collaborative working style centered on effective communication to drive results at a rapid pace. You will report to the Vice President, Neuroscience (Genetics) and are expected to work onsite (full-time or hybrid) at our office in South San Francisco, CA.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to insitro's strategy in ophthalmology and neurodegenerative diseases
• Work as a project team lead to design both experimental and human data-based strategies to help identify drug targets and biomarkers, deconvolute biology, and help stratify patients with the goal of producing viable therapeutic interventions
• Establish, optimize and perform cell-based and biochemical assays to support drug target validation for ophthalmology indications
• Evaluate and implement new enabling technologies and methodologies for experimental validation of drug targets, incl. iPSC-derived cell models of retinal disease
• Participate in & lead ophthalmology external collaborations

About You

• Advanced degree in Medicine, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Pharmacology or a related scientific discipline with at least 5 years of work experience, including postdoctoral and/or industry experience.
• Profound insights into the drug discovery and development process through 2+ years of work at a biotech/pharmacological company or through tight collaborations with the for-profit sector
• Scientific subject matter expertise in retinal diseases and/or related ophthalmologic or neurodegenerative disorders
• Experience with the development and execution of cellular assays at mid- and high-throughput scale, using a wide range of methods (incl. advanced microscopy, cell-based functional assays, immunoassays, biochemistry)
• Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional teams to advance drug discovery
• Experience in translating insights from large scale human cohort data into drug discovery programs is a plus
• Experience in working with retinal imaging data is a plus

Compensation & Benefits at insitro

Our target starting salary for successful US-based applicants for this role is $155,000.00 - $200,000.00. To determine starting pay, we consider multiple job-related factors including a candidate's skills, education and experience, market demand, business needs, and internal parity. We may also adjust this range in the future based on market data.

This role is eligible for participation in our Annual Performance Bonus Plan (based on company targets by role level and annual company performance) and our Equity Incentive Plan, subject to the terms of those plans and associated policies.

In addition, insitro also provides our employees:

• 401(k) plan with employer matching for contributions
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage as well as mental health and well-being support
• Open, flexible vacation policy
• Paid parental leave of at least 16 weeks to support parents who give birth, and 10 weeks for a new parent (inclusive of birth, adoption, fostering, etc)
• Quarterly budget for books and online courses for self-development
• Support to attend professional conferences that are meaningful to your career growth and role's responsibilities
• New hire stipend for home office setup
• Monthly cell phone & internet stipend
• Access to free onsite baristas and cafe with daily lunch and breakfast for employees who are either onsite or hybrid
• Access to free onsite fitness center for employees who are either onsite or hybrid
• Access to a free commuter bus and ferry network that provides transport to and from our South San Francisco HQ from locations all around the Bay Area

insitro is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion need to be at the foundation of our culture. We work hard to bring together diverse teams–grounded in a wide range of expertise and life experiences–and work even harder to ensure those teams thrive in inclusive, growth-oriented environments supported by equitable company and team practices. All candidates can expect equitable treatment, respect, and fairness throughout the interview process.

#LI-Hybrid

About insitro   insitro is a drug discovery and development company using machine learning (ML) and data at scale to decode biology for transformative medicines. At the core of insitro’s approach is the convergence of in-house generated multi-modal cellular data and high-content phenotypic human cohort data. We rely on these data to develop ML-driven, predictive disease models that uncover underlying biologic state and elucidate critical drivers of disease. These powerful models rely on extensive biological and computational infrastructure and allow insitro to advance novel targets and patient biomarkers, design therapeutics and inform clinical strategy. insitro is advancing a wholly owned and partnered pipeline of insights and therapeutics in neuroscience, oncology and metabolism. Since launching in 2018, insitro has raised over $700 million from top tech, biotech and crossover investors, and from collaborations with pharmaceutical partners. For more information on insitro, please visit www.insitro.com.