1

Translational Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

This individual will serve as a key scientific leader supporting an assigned development program primarily for rare-kidney disease and will play an important role in advancing translational and non ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Translational Science information

What is the difference between Translational Science vs Clinical Research Coordinator?

AspectTranslational ScienceClinical Research Coordinator
Required credentialsBachelor's or higher in life sciences, advanced degrees often preferredBachelor's degree in health sciences or related field, certification optional
Work environmentLaboratories, research institutions, biotech companiesClinical trial sites, hospitals, research clinics
Employer and industry usagePharmaceutical companies, academic research, biotech firmsHospitals, clinical research organizations, academic medical centers
Common search and comparison intentUnderstanding research roles bridging lab and clinical applicationsManaging patient data and coordinating clinical trials

Translational Science focuses on converting laboratory research into clinical applications, often working in labs and research settings. Clinical Research Coordinators manage and oversee clinical trials at healthcare facilities. While both roles are integral to medical research, Translational Science emphasizes bench-to-bedside development, whereas Clinical Research Coordinators focus on trial logistics and patient coordination.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in translational science, and how can they be addressed?

Translational Science professionals often encounter challenges bridging the gap between basic research and clinical application, such as coordinating interdisciplinary teams and managing complex project timelines. Effective communication across diverse scientific and clinical groups is essential, as is staying updated with regulatory requirements and ethical considerations. Building strong collaborative networks and developing project management skills can help overcome these hurdles, enabling smoother progression from laboratory discoveries to patient care innovations.

What is translational science?

Translational science is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on turning scientific discoveries made in laboratories, clinics, or population studies into practical applications that improve human health. This process often involves bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice, ensuring that new treatments, diagnostics, or interventions reach patients more efficiently. Translational scientists work to identify barriers in the research-to-practice pipeline and develop strategies to overcome them, accelerating the delivery of medical advances. The field requires collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to ensure scientific innovations benefit society.

What does a translational science do?

A professional in translational science focuses on converting laboratory research into clinical applications and therapies. They work to bridge the gap between basic scientific discoveries and patient care, often collaborating with researchers, clinicians, and regulatory agencies. Skills in data analysis, research methodology, and understanding of biomedical sciences are essential in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a translational scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Translational Scientist, you generally need a strong background in biomedical research, clinical science, and a relevant advanced degree (such as a PhD, MD, or PharmD). Familiarity with laboratory techniques, data analysis software, regulatory requirements, and project management systems is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills are crucial for bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical application. These skills ensure that scientific innovations can be efficiently and safely translated into therapies that benefit patients.
What job categories do people searching Translational Science jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Translational Science jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Translational Science jobs? Cities in California with the most Translational Science job openings:
Infographic showing various Translational Science job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution.

Director of Translational Science

Valius Sciences

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$160K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

Valius overview
At Valius, we believe that the future of cancer care will be defined by "maximalist" diagnostics: deep, comprehensive assessments of DNA, RNA, and protein designed to give patients and their care teams the best possible understanding of how their tumor works and what its vulnerabilities are.
We're building the diagnostics and bioinformatics company to power this future, starting by applying this approach to patients with challenging cancers. In our first year, we worked with over 75 of these patients and, in many cases, identified plausible therapeutic targets which had not been discovered previously. This coming year, we're on track to scale our patient volume significantly, all while bringing new diagnostic modalities (e.g., single-cell transcriptomics) and analytical approaches into clinical care for the very first time.
We've just raised a $13.5M seed round, led by 8VC and Basis Set Ventures, and are looking for people passionate about changing cancer care to join our growing team.
Director of Translational Science role
We're hiring a Director of Translational Science to work directly with our patients and their care teams to translate complex molecular profile data into clear, evidence-based treatment options. This is a non-traditional translational science role: you'll operate at the intersection of oncology, molecular genomics, and clinical evidence interpretation, delivering scientifically rigorous, clinically grounded, and compassionate guidance to patients. You'll also have the opportunity to supervise one or more translational science team members.
You may come from a variety of backgrounds, but you should have:
  • Strong oncology fluency across modalities and tumor types
  • A deep understanding of the oncology therapeutic landscape
  • Expert ability to interpret clinical trial evidence and apply it to real-world patient contexts
  • Exceptional communication skills with patients, clinicians, and scientists across disciplines

This is an in-person role in San Francisco or Boston.
What you'll do
  • Develop treatment strategies: Prioritize SOC, trials, and other therapeutic options (including off-label/expanded access when appropriate) based on patient molecular data and clinical evidence
  • Interpret evidence with rigor: Synthesize trial data, biomarker subgroup performance, and real-world feasibility to evaluate therapeutic options
  • Communicate with patients: Present findings directly to patients and their care teams, answer their questions, and help them think through next steps
  • Partner with computational biology: Work with our computational biologists to integrate and synthesize patient molecular data (variants, expression, scRNAseq, IHC/mIF as relevant)
  • Coach team members: Oversee one or more supervisees, providing regular coaching and partnership to ensure that they deliver expert, accurate analysis to our patients
  • Contribute to internal knowledge bases: Draft therapy/biomarker evidence summaries, indication briefs, trial digests, and interpretation playbooks for use by the scientific team
  • Help guide R&D efforts: Work with scientific, engineering, and product teams to help develop Valius's scientific offering

What you'll bring
  • Advanced degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline (with substantial oncology experience). An exceptional fit may be considered even in the absence of an advanced degree
  • Deep understanding of oncology therapeutics (targeted therapy, immuno-oncology, ADCs, resistance, sequencing, tumor-type nuance)
  • Demonstrated strength interpreting clinical trial evidence and explaining clinical relevance (including biomarker subgroups)
  • Experience presenting complex information to patients confidently, clearly, and empathetically
  • Ability to reason from molecular data to therapy hypotheses while respecting evidence strength, contraindications, and real-world practice patterns
  • Excellent written and verbal communication
  • Comfort working in a high-stakes, client-facing setting
  • Comfort working with ambiguity and evolving evidence in fast-moving therapeutic areas
  • Commitment to our patient-focused mission
  • Interest in working for a small, early-stage startup

What we'll bring
  • Competitive salary and equity compensation
  • Generous refresh grants
  • Comprehensive benefits (health, dental, vision, 401(k))
  • Genuine investment in your professional development
  • Fun, mission-driven team culture