Scientist II, Functional Bioassays & High Throughput Screening

The Role:

The Functional Bioassays team is seeking a Scientist II to develop, optimize, and execute functional assays across Generate’s therapeutic portfolio. This bench-focused role will generate high-quality data to guide protein design and program decisions, including AI/ML-enabled design cycles.

The scientist will design, optimize, and troubleshoot biochemical and cell-based assays; execute high-throughput screening campaigns; analyze results; and support automation integration across programs. Work may include ion-channel, GPCR, ADC-related, and other functional assay platforms as portfolio needs evolve.

Approximately 80–90% of this role will be laboratory-based. The scientist will collaborate with colleagues across Therapeutics, Technology, and cross-functional program teams to deliver well-controlled data for iterative design-build-test-learn cycles.

This role is suited to a hands-on scientist with experience in functional assay development and high-throughput screening who can take ownership of experiments, communicate results clearly, and adapt to changing program needs.

Here's how you will contribute:

· Design, optimize, and implement high-throughput screening-compatible cell-based and biochemical assays, integrating automation where appropriate.

· Plan and execute plate-based high-throughput screening campaigns, analyze results, and interpret experimental datasets.

· Communicate findings to program teams to inform AI/ML-enabled design cycles, program decisions, and therapeutic optimization.

· Support high-throughput functional assay work across multiple therapeutic programs, with potential focus areas including ion channels, GPCRs, and ADC-related assays.

· Apply and expand expertise in novel functional assay technologies, including ion-channel and GPCR assays, as program needs evolve.

· Conduct experiments with attention to detail, scientific rigor, and adherence to established protocols.

· Troubleshoot assay performance, instrumentation, reagents, and workflows in partnership with senior scientists and Automation colleagues.

· Maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized records in electronic laboratory notebooks and other data systems.

· Prepare clear summaries of results for team discussions, program updates, and cross-functional meetings.

· Coordinate experiments with colleagues across Functional Bioassays, Automation, Biology, Protein Sciences, Data Science, and program teams.

· Follow laboratory safety practices, sample-handling requirements, data-integrity expectations, and Generate’s scientific standards.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

· PhD in cell biology, pharmacology, immunology, biochemistry, bioengineering, molecular biology, or a related discipline, with approximately 2+ years of industry or postdoctoral experience; or MS with approximately 5+ years of relevant industry or academic research experience; or BS with approximately 7+ years of relevant industry or academic research experience.

· Hands-on experience with cell-based, biochemical, and functional assays in an academic, biotech, pharmaceutical, or related research setting.

· Strong technical foundation in mammalian cell culture and plate-based assay workflows.

· Experience with plate-based assay technologies such as ELISA, HTRF, AlphaLISA, luminescence or fluorescence assays, flow cytometry, or similar methods.

· Experience designing, optimizing, and executing high-throughput screening in 384- or 1536-well formats for small molecules, biologics, or both, with appropriate controls and replicates, sound data quality, and clear documentation.

· Ability to recognize assay-performance or data-quality issues, investigate likely causes, and contribute to troubleshooting.

· Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed research environment where priorities may shift across programs.

· Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple experiments or workstreams.

· Ability to analyze and present data at scale using tools such as Spotfire, Dotmatics, ScreenWorks, Harmony, iQue Forecyt, or similar platforms.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize results, observations, and next steps clearly.

· Collaborative working style, accountability, curiosity, and adaptability when learning new assay formats, therapeutic areas, and technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience with ion-channel assays or related functional readouts, such as patch clamp, membrane-potential, thallium-flux assays, or electrophysiology workflows.

· Experience with GPCR assays, including reporter, calcium-flux, cAMP, IP-one, beta-arrestin, or other pathway-based functional assays.

· Experience with ADC, image-based internalization, targeted protein degradation, immune-cell, or cytotoxicity assay formats.

· Experience with organoid-based screening workflows.

· Experience working with primary cells, engineered cell lines, or stable cell-line generation.

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