Principal Scientist, GI/Liver Biomarkers & Translational Research

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

1d • $195,670 - $253,220 • Onsite

About The Position

Gilead Sciences is seeking a scientifically rigorous Principal Scientist to lead biomarker and translational strategy and execution for clinical-stage inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and liver disease programs. This hands-on scientific leadership role requires deep disease biology expertise, clinical biomarker development experience, and a strong record of scientific productivity.

The Principal Scientist will serve as the cross-functional biomarker lead for assigned programs, translating disease mechanisms and human biology into fit-for-purpose biomarker plans from early clinical development through Phase II/III. Program assignments may evolve as portfolio priorities change. This is a site-based position at Gilead’s global headquarters in Foster City, California.

Requirements

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, PharmD, or equivalent advanced degree in immunology, gastroenterology, hepatology, inflammation biology, translational medicine, pharmacology, or a related discipline.
• Typically 8 or more years of relevant postdoctoral, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical development, or human translational research experience, including meaningful clinical-stage drug development experience.
• Demonstrated success independently leading biomarker strategy and execution for one or more complex clinical programs, with examples of biomarker evidence informing dose, proof-of-concept, patient population, go/no-go, or development decisions.
• Strong scientific depth in human immunology and immune-mediated inflammatory disease, with direct GI/IBD and/or liver disease experience.
• Sustained record of impactful scientific productivity, such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, clinical or translational datasets, invited presentations, or externally recognized collaborations.
• Hands-on experience with assay development or externalization, clinical sample operations, biomarker data analysis and interpretation, and work in regulated development environments.
• Ability to lead cross-functional workstreams, manage external partners, deliver high-quality work on time, and communicate effectively with scientific and clinical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience in Crohn’s disease and/or ulcerative colitis, including endoscopic, histologic, intestinal tissue, blood, and stool assessments.
• Experience in liver inflammation, fibrosis, noninvasive biomarkers, imaging, and/or liver histopathology.
• Experience supporting Phase I through Phase III studies and contributing to health authority interactions or regulatory documents.
• Experience with single-cell or spatial profiling, transcriptomics, proteomics, cytometry, digital pathology, genetics, microbiome analysis, or integrated multi-omic approaches.
• Working knowledge of companion diagnostic or in vitro diagnostic considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end biomarker strategy for assigned GI/IBD and liver programs, covering target engagement, pharmacodynamic, mechanism-of-action, disease activity, safety, predictive, and treatment-response biomarkers.
• Translate program hypotheses into decision-focused clinical biomarker plans, sampling strategies, assay requirements, analysis plans, and interpretation frameworks.
• Provide hands-on scientific leadership for blood, stool, intestinal and liver tissue, endoscopic, histologic, imaging, and multi-omic biomarker approaches.
• Lead assay selection, characterization, qualification or validation, outsourcing, technology transfer, and CRO/vendor oversight; resolve scientific, quality, and operational issues.
• Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Pathology, Research, Clinical Operations, and Regulatory to incorporate biomarker objectives into protocols and development plans.
• Lead integrated interpretation of clinical, pathology, imaging, transcriptomic, proteomic, cellular, spatial, and other high-dimensional datasets; develop testable hypotheses and actionable recommendations.
• Drive forward and reverse translational analyses, including responder/non-responder studies and investigation of response, resistance, relapse, and patient heterogeneity.
• Author or contribute biomarker content to protocols, investigator brochures, analysis plans, clinical study reports, briefing documents, regulatory submissions, publications, and presentations.
• Communicate findings to program teams and governance forums, manage risks and trade-offs, and influence decisions with limited guidance.
• Mentor colleagues, establish scientific and executional standards, and contribute reusable biomarker tools, datasets, and best practices across the portfolio.

Benefits

• May be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus.
• May be eligible for discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, with eligibility varying by role.
• Paid time off.
• Company-sponsored medical insurance.
• Company-sponsored dental insurance.
• Company-sponsored vision insurance.
• Company-sponsored life insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree