Foresite Labs

(StealthCo) Scientist: Biology and Cell Pharmacology

Foresite Labs$80K — $120K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field with 0-2 years of industry experience preferred
  • BS or MS in Cell Biology or Molecular Biology with 5+ years of relevant research experience
  • Proven tissue culture experience with human cell lines and primary human cells, ideally with CD34+ hematopoietic or stem cells
  • Molecular biology expertise in DNA/RNA purification and proficiency in qPCR, RNA-seq, flow cytometry, ELISA, and Western blotting
  • Experience in building novel cell-based assays is highly desirable
  • Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, able to learn new techniques quickly
  • Strong communication skills for effective teamwork and documentation

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development of a novel therapeutic for treating hematologic diseases
  • Develop and optimize cell-based assays to evaluate the effects of compounds on erythroid differentiation and cell health
  • Culture and differentiate multiple cell lines using established and custom protocols
  • Mentor and train associates while collaborating with fellow scientists
  • Translate and adapt selected assays to support in vivo pharmacology studies
  • Maintain thorough laboratory records and present data analysis in team meetings
  • Ensure compliance with lab safety, quality, and recordkeeping standards
  • Oversee research activities with external research organizations as necessary

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation and benefits
  • Collaborative small-team environment fostering growth opportunities
  • Opportunity to contribute to innovative drug discovery efforts
  • Joining an early-stage biotechnology company with reputable investors
Full Job Description
About the role:

We are seeking a highly motivated and intellectually agile Scientist to join our stealth-mode biotech company and contribute to programs focused on hematopoietic cell biology. This laboratory-based role will be responsible for designing, executing, and interpreting in vitro experiments that generate actionable insights and support scientific decision-making.

The successful candidate will be mechanistically minded, able to connect experimental observations to underlying biology, build novel reproducible assays, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

The position is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in the successful development of new drugs for patients within an early-stage therapeutics company backed by highly regarded investors.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead efforts to develop a novel therapeutic for the treatment of a hematologic disease with unmet medical need
  • Develop, optimize, and perform cell-based assays to evaluate the impact of compounds on:
    • Erythroid differentiation (e.g., flow cytometry markers,morphology)
    • Cell health (e.g., viability)
    • Protein-level readouts (e.g., flow cytometry, ELISA, high content imaging, Western blot)
    • RNA-level outcomes (e.g., qPCR)
  • Culture and differentiate multiple cell lines using established and custom protocols.
  • Collaborate with scientists, mentor and train associates in a small biotech startup environment.
  • Translate and develop selected assays to support in vivo pharmacology studies.
  • Maintain detailed laboratory records, perform data analysis, and present findings in team meetings.
  • Ensure compliance with all lab safety, quality, and recordkeeping standards.
  • Oversee research activities with external research organizations (CROs) as needed

Qualifications:
  • PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field with 0-2 years of industry experience preferred
  • BS or MS in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant industry research experience will be considered
  • Proven tissue culture experience with human cell lines and primary human cell culture-ideally CD34+ hematopoietic or other stem/progenitor cells. Familiarity with erythroid differentiation assays and hematopoietic biology is a plus.
  • Molecular biology expertise including DNA and RNA purification and practical expertise with downstream nucleic acid-based (e.g., qPCR, and RNA-seq) and protein-based assays (e.g. flow cytometry, ELISA, and Western blotting)
  • Demonstrated experience in building novel cell-based assays is a strong plus.
  • Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and a track record of learning new techniques and scientific concepts quickly.
  • Strong communication skills for cross-functional teamwork and clear documentation.

What we offer:
  • Competitive compensation and benefits
  • A collaborative, small-team environment with growth opportunities
  • The opportunity to contribute to innovative drug discovery efforts and join an early-stage biotechnology company backed by highly regarded investors

Location: Cambridge, MA

About Foresite Labs

Foresite Labs is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage healthcare and life sciences companies. The firm was founded in 2019 by Jim Tananbaum, a healthcare entrepreneur and investor. Foresite Labs is a subsidiary of Foresite Capital, a leading healthcare investment firm. The firm's portfolio includes companies in the areas of biotechnology, medical devices, digital health, and healthcare services. Foresite Labs provides funding, strategic guidance, and operational support to its portfolio companies. The firm is based in San Francisco, California.
Learn more about Foresite Labs
Industry
Founded
2019

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Foresite Labs

More Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Jobs

Find similar (StealthCo) Scientist: Biology and Cell Pharmacology jobs: