Senior Scientist - Biochemistry

Deep Origin is a biotechnology company accelerating drug discovery through AI-powered computational tools. Our platforms simplify R&D, simulate biology, and empower scientists to solve diseases and extend healthspan. We are building a world-class experimental biology team to complement our AI and chemistry platforms — bringing mechanistic understanding to the forefront of discovery.

We are seeking a Senior Scientist with deep expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, or pharmacology to drive the experimental component of our small molecule drug discovery programs. This is a hands-on role that combines assay development, mechanistic biology, and structural insight to support early-stage hit identification, lead optimization, and preclinical development.

You will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of computational biologists, chemists, and pharmacologists to design and execute experiments that inform compound activity and mechanism of action.

• Design and optimize in vitro and cell-based assays to evaluate small molecule binding, inhibition, and signaling responses.
• Execute biochemical and biophysical assays (e.g., BLI, DSF, SEC-MALS) to characterize compound-target interactions.
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets to guide SAR and lead optimization.
• Collaborate closely with the medicinal chemistry team to support rapid design–make–test cycles.
• Support structure-based drug design initiatives by collaborating on cryo-EM or X-ray crystallography of target–ligand or target–antibody complexes.
• Maintain accurate lab notebooks and experimental documentation in compliance with company policies.
• Manage laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance and reagent tracking.
• Contribute to pharmacology strategy, including design and oversight of preclinical PoC studies at CROs to support IND-enabling work.
  

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular/Cell Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field, with 3 years of postdoctoral or industry experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in biochemical and biophysical assay development, including techniques such as BLI, DSF, SEC-MALS, SPR, and binding kinetics.
• Proficiency in cell-based functional assays for pathway analysis and mechanism-of-action studies, including TR-FRET, AlphaLISA, ELISA, and other signaling readouts.
• Skilled in protein expression and purification, particularly of membrane proteins, using mammalian or insect systems.
• Familiarity with high-throughput screening (HTS) and assay miniaturization for small molecule discovery.
• Experience with enzyme assays, signal transduction platforms, and target engagement methods.
• Exposure to structure–function workflows, with experience in cryo-EM or X-ray crystallography, including sample preparation and preliminary structural analysis.
• Prior experience in drug discovery or translational research.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to independently design and refine experiments.
• Creative, detail-oriented, and scientifically curious with excellent communication and team collaboration abilities.

• Collaborate with scientists who have:
• Built gene-to-structure pipelines for membrane protein targets
• Discovered novel protein interactions.
• Make a direct impact on first-in-class discovery programs.
• Work at the frontier of AI, structural biology, and translational pharmacology.
  

If you're an innovative experimentalist driven by curiosity and translational impact, come join our journey to build the future of drug discovery.