In Vitro Assay Scientists Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Isomorphic labs are seeking exceptional individuals to join a highly impactful In vitro and Cellular Pharmacology sub-team, within our Translational Sciences team, which specialises in small molecules. We're hiring at the Research Leader and Senior Scientist levels, and you can apply for either position using the application form below. 

These roles are ideal for experienced in vitro pharmacologists with significant working knowledge of biophysical, biochemical and/or cell-based functional assays, and extensive experience of providing quantitative in vitro pharmacology expertise within drug discovery projects. You will be responsible for defining in vitro strategies and screening cascades for our drug design projects, advancing our oncology, immunology and partnership portfolios from early drug discovery through to candidate selection, and ultimately to clinical phase work. These are exciting opportunities to work closely with world-leading ML and drug discovery experts to develop imaginative new ways to test biological hypotheses, building a deep mechanistic understanding of drug target interactions to drive our projects forward. By overseeing externalized CRO activities, you will close the loop between computational biological insights and real-world laboratory validation. You will have experience of working broadly across drug discovery projects, with the ability to think originally and critically, knowing when to apply innovative ideas, and think with a fresh approach. If you are a skilled In vitro / Cellular Pharmacologist with a passion for applying cutting-edge technology to complex scientific challenges, this role offers an unparalleled opportunity for impact and growth.

As part of this hiring, some roles will have people management responsibilities for building teams of 2-3 In vitro / Cellular Pharmacologists. In this case, you will be responsible for line managing and mentoring a talented and high-performing team, encouraging their scientific growth and career development. You'll champion our cross-disciplinary approach, fostering a supportive team culture where continuous learning and the adoption of next-generation tools are the standard, not the exception.

• Design efficient and comprehensive biological screening cascades for a variety of internal and partnered drug design programs.
• Guide the optimization and implementation of biophysical and biochemical assays, including SPR, ITC, and enzymatic methodologies, to rigorously evaluate target interaction, pharmacological potency, and molecular specificity.
• Direct the development and refinement of functional and phenotypic cellular assays, bridging the gap between biochemical engagement and biological potency to advance target validation and mechanistic understanding.
• Work with CROs to design decision-making experiments, and deliver the highest quality biological data to inform the path to the clinic.
• Evaluate, interpret, and synthesize complex binding, kinetic, and dose-response information; generate precise technical documentation to guide strategic decision-making and support IND-enabling data packages.
• Act as a vital bridge between computational prediction and experimental reality, collaborating closely with:
• AI/ML and Data Science teams: To translate in silico predictions into testable hypotheses and provide clean data loops to train future models.
• Medicinal Chemistry: To guide SAR-driven design cycles with rapid, reliable potency and selectivity data.
• Structural Biology: To align biophysical binding data with structural insights informing lead optimization.
• In vivo Pharmacology and Translational Sciences: To ensure a seamless handoff of validated leads into in vivo efficacy and translational study design.

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Biophysics, or a related scientific discipline.
• 8+ years / 5+ years of professional experience in a Translational Sciences role, operating within a biotech, pharma or CRO setting.
• Experience of project leadership / leading biology within small molecule drug discovery programs, ideally from inception to clinical candidate delivery.
• For a people management position, experience of leading a high-performing scientific team, mentoring and empowering them to thrive in their roles.
• Extensive experience in the design and implementation of biological screening cascades applied to drug design projects from hit identification to candidate selection phases.
• Deep knowledge of experimental in vitro pharmacology techniques including biophysical, biochemical and/or cellular assays.
• Ability to provide technical guidance within matrixed organizations, effectively steering cross-functional programs and execution through collaboration.
• Experience working with CROs in acquiring and interpreting high quality biological data in a timely manner.
• Dynamism and agility, with ability to work across several projects and therapeutic areas.
• Effective communication across a broad interdisciplinary team, working with key stakeholders with different skills and backgrounds.

• Experience of leading biology within drug discovery programs from inception to clinical candidate delivery.
• Experience partnering with Data Science groups in setting up systems for ingestion of biological data.
• Track record of contributing to drug design projects which have then delivered Clinical Candidates.
• Working knowledge of designing and implementing assays and screening cascades for alternative modalities or alternative chemistries e.g peptides or molecular glues.
• General knowledge of machine learning modelling applied to biological systems and drug discovery.