The Department of Discovery Oncology is seeking a creative, intellectually curious, and motivated Scientist 3 to help pioneer a new frontier in cancer drug discovery: harnessing induced proximity to reprogram protein function in cancer cells. This is a role for a scientist who is energized by open-ended biological problems and wants to translate mechanistic insight into medicines for patients who need them.
Induced proximity has transformed how we think about what is "druggable," but our ambitions reach well beyond degradation and enzymatic inhibition. We are exploring the broader pharmacology of target engagement that produces novel functional outcomes-stabilizing or disrupting complexes, redirecting localization, altering post-translational modification, rewiring signaling, and inducing gain-of-function activities that simply don't exist in nature. In this role, you'll have the freedom-and the world-class tools-to ask what's possible when we can place any two biomolecules in deliberate proximity inside a living cancer cell.
You will work as part of multidisciplinary project teams, translating early biological discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies in close partnership with drug discovery groups across Genentech.
The Opportunity- Design and execute creative, hypothesis-driven experiments to discover and validate novel oncology targets and proximity-based mechanisms of action that go beyond inhibition or degradation.
- Pioneer the design and implementation of induced proximity strategies to modulate protein function in cancer cells-reshaping signaling, localization, complex formation, and activity in ways that create new therapeutic openings.
- Develop and test bold therapeutic hypotheses, identify robust pharmacodynamic markers, and establish practical strategies to drug the targets you uncover.
- Engineer cancer cell systems to build the cellular models needed to interrogate proximity pharmacology.
- Deploy and innovate on a diverse toolkit for measuring protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions in cells (proximity labeling, FRET, BRET, and emerging approaches).
- Collaborate with outstanding scientists across Genentech, including colleagues in Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, and Computational Sciences-and leverage rapidly evolving capabilities in AI/ML, proteomics, and functional genomics.
- Present and discuss data in lab meetings, department forums, and cross-functional project teams.
- Foster a collaborative culture by sharing expertise, learning from others, and staying current with the literature in a fast-moving field.
Who You Are- A Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Chemical Biology, or a related field.
- At least 3 years of research experience in an academic or industry laboratory.
- A creative and rigorous experimentalist with a proven track record of impactful research, demonstrated through publications.
- Cancer cell culture expertise, including experience establishing and maintaining difficult-to-culture cell lines.
- Cell line engineering expertise spanning lentiviral delivery, transposon-based gene insertion, and CRISPR knock-in approaches.
- Hands-on experience using multiple strategies to measure protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions in cells, such as proximity labeling, FRET, and BRET.
- Proficiency in a broad range of biochemical, molecular, and cell biology techniques including flow cytometry.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to independently design, execute, and interpret experiments.
- Strong communication skills and a genuine enthusiasm for collaborative, team-based science.
- Motivation to learn new experimental approaches and computational analyses, and the curiosity to explore unconventional ideas.
Preferred Qualifications- Training and a strong research record in chemical biology.
- Strong background in cancer cell signaling pathways.
- Experience in functional genomics, including work with barcoded/pooled libraries.
- Direct experience with induced proximity modalities (e.g., PROTACs/molecular glues and related approaches), or a demonstrated interest in extending proximity pharmacology to novel functional outcomes.
- Deep mechanistic understanding of the processes that drive cancer development and progression.
Relocation benefits are available for this posting.
The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $103,400 - $192,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.
Benefits
