Senior Scientist I/II

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking an enthusiastic, hard-working, and highly motivated cell biologist and/or biochemist to join our multidisciplinary drug discovery team in developing novel therapeutics to treat unmet medical needs.  The successful candidate will have a strong background in cell-free and cell-based assay development and small-molecule screening.  This role will contribute to the growth of Belharra’s research portfolio by developing, automating, and executing cell-based and biochemical assays to advance the discovery and development programs. The Senior Scientist will also play a role in the selection and validation of the new targets.

WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

• Lead team efforts in developing screening assays and translational cellular models to support small molecule screening.
• Design and execution of in vitro pharmacology studies and screening cascades to determine potency and selectivity of small molecules to understand their SAR and rapidly drive the hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs.
• Design and implement pathway-based and phenotypic screens to identify new targets in multiple disease areas, initially focused on immunology and oncology.
• Execute conversion of assays into miniaturized high-throughput (HTS) format.
• Mentor and manage PhD and non-PhD scientists; coordinate research activities and effectively allocate resources between internal staff, external CROs and other external collaborators.
• Develop and proactively communicate project strategy/screening campaign, present to senior management.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE TEAM

• People-first approach.  You take pride in the way you collaborate and partner with people across the business.
• Passion for problem solving. You are excited by new challenges and know how to achieve maximum results and drive projects forward.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to efficiently evaluate, prioritize and handle multiple changing projects and priorities.
• Strategic mindset and ability to see the bigger picture in your approach to science and understanding data.
• Thirst for overachieving. You don’t just meet goals, you set the standard.
• Ph.D in Molecular and Cell Biology, Biochemistry or related field with 5-8 years of industry experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience with assay development and small-molecule screening to understand their SAR
• Deep and broad experience in developing and troubleshooting cell-based and in vitro screens in multiple formats (TR-FRET, ELISA, Nano BRET, FP, etc)
• Experience with typical lab automation equipment including automated liquid handlers, dispensers, multimode plate readers, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing small molecule discovery projects through lead identification and optimization as part of a multidisciplinary team.

WHAT YOU’LL GET AS PART OF OUR TEAM

• A collaborative and positive culture  
• Limitless growth and learning opportunities
• Commitment to talent and leadership development
  • All Belharrans gain access to the SkillCycle platform and receive the opportunity to work 1:1 with a coach to support their growth and development
• A chance to make a lasting impact on drug discovery and human health
• Competitive compensation and company ownership
• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision coverage from a broad choice of providers and plans 
  • 100% of premium coverage for employees; up to 95% of premium coverage for eligible dependents
• 401(k) program with a company sponsored contribution
• “Take what you need” vacation and sick time off policy
• 10 annual paid company holidays, plus the last week of December
• A new office and lab space in San Diego with flexibility and autonomy to do your work how and where you need