Head of Translational Sciences, Drug Design, Cambridge, MA

Isomorphic Labs•Cambridge, MA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

Isomorphic Labs (IsoLabs) was launched in 2021 to advance human health by building on and beyond the Nobel-winning AlphaFold system. Since then, their interdisciplinary team of drug discovery experts and machine learning specialists has built powerful new predictive and generative AI models that accelerate scientific discovery at digital speed. The company's name comes from the belief that there is an underlying symmetry between biology and information science. By harnessing AI’s powerful capabilities, they can use it to model complex biological phenomena to help design novel molecules, anticipate how drugs will perform and develop innovative medicines to treat and cure some of the world’s most devastating diseases. They have built a world-leading drug design engine comprising AI models that are capable of working across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities, continually innovating on model architecture and developing cutting-edge capabilities to advance rational drug design. The Translational Sciences team in Boston is a dynamic drug discovery team, an essential component of Isomorphic Labs’ effort to transform how drugs are designed. This team will have impact across the full breadth of the portfolio, from critical input on target selection to essential partnership on biomarker development, to enable pharmacodynamic modulation and target engagement in the clinic. Domain expertise will be critical to design translational strategies for programs, evolving understanding of mechanisms and modes of action as programs progress. This team will be highly collaborative and need to establish strong scientific relationships with multiple groups in the company, from Medicinal Chemists to Applied Machine Learning Scientists, creating a powerful symbiotic relationship that drives internal and collaborative portfolios.

Requirements

PhD in relevant Biological Sciences.
Solid foundation in Translational Sciences with a minimum of 10+ years previous industrial experience within a pharma/biotech/CRO setting, with a clear trajectory of increasing responsibility.
Proven track record of successfully navigating the discovery to IND transition, demonstrating mastery of molecular mechanisms.
Track record of delivering multiple programs by formulating and implementing fit for purpose biological strategies to progress from hit ID through to IND as a program biology lead.
Demonstrated experience in line management, mentorship, and developing scientific talent.
Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities applied to complex drug discovery challenges.
Ability to work with computational biologists to define and implement patient and biomarker selection strategies.
Experience of working with and closely managing CRO resource.
Strong track record of scientific achievement, evidenced by publications, patents, and presentations.
Genuine passion for drug discovery and enthusiasm for the potential of AI/ML to transform the field.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an AI/ML led drug discovery environment.
Experience of working with product /data scientist to build or configure data analysis systems for diverse program datasets but specifically for pharmacological data.
Experience of diverse chemical modalities e.g. molecular glues.

Responsibilities

Lead the Translational Science strategy, identifying biomarkers and developing assays that define our clinical path and patient selection criteria in conjunction with our Computational Biology team.
Ensure scientific rigor and "decision-quality" data across all local programs.
Partner with the VP, Head of Drug Discovery, Cambridge, MA to recruit and retain a world-class team of scientists.
Maintain a seamless collaborative loop with the Head of Translational Sciences, London to ensure resource sharing, protocol alignment, and unified scientific standards.
Direct all in vitro and in vivo biology operations in Cambridge, MA through a network of CROs to generate, ingest and interpret high quality experimental data efficiently to support all aspects of our drug design programs from HitID through to IND.
Foster a site culture of high accountability, rapid iteration, and scientific curiosity.
Serve as a key internal consultant and advisor for global target discovery, providing critical technical assessment, feasibility analysis, and translational "stress testing" for new targets under consideration.
Collaboratively execute program progression and determine resource allocation.
Facilitate the transfer best practices and know-how between the UK and US sites to maximize R&D efficiency.
Manage relationships with CROs and academic collaborators to extend the site’s internal capabilities.