Scientist, Functional Genomics, Virtual Cell Initiative

Arc Institute • Palo Alto, CA

20h

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Scientist with a strong background in functional genomics and single-cell sequencing to join the Virtual Cell Initiative at Arc Institute. The initiative aims to create the first foundational model that makes accurate predictions of cellular states and their response to intervention. In this role, you will lead the generation of massive single-cell perturbation datasets across 50+ cancer cell lines to train Virtual Cell models.
You will be responsible for the end-to-end experimental workflow—from mammalian cell culture and large-scale CRISPR screening to single-cell library preparation and sequencing. Beyond technical execution, this role requires a scientist with exceptional project management capabilities, proficient in organizing complex data streams and adhering to timelines. The successful candidate will thrive within our vibrant team science culture, collaborating daily with other wet lab scientists, automation engineers, and computational biologists. We believe that the most ambitious science is achieved together, and in this highly integrated role, you will bridge the gap between experimental biology and computational innovation.

Requirements

• PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, or another relevant field.
• 0-3 years of post-PhD experience in academia or industry.
• Extensive experience with large-scale pooled CRISPR screening, preferably with scRNA-seq readouts (e.g. Perturb-seq, CROP-seq).
• Expertise in mammalian cell culture and ability to manage multiple cell lines simultaneously.
• Experience in multi-color flow cytometry.
• Experience with mammalian cell line engineering using transfection, lentivirus production and transduction, and other common approaches.
• Experience with different molecular biology techniques (cloning, PCR, etc).
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to independently plan, execute, and deliver results on time. Experience with using various project management systems, ELN and LIMS (e.g. Asana, Benchling).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with downstream genomics protocols, especially scRNA-seq (preferably 10X Genomics workflows).
• Experience designing and cloning large pooled CRISPR sgRNA libraries.
• Experience optimizing different CRISPR-Cas9 effector systems, such as CRISPRi and CRISPRa, including vector design and delivery.
• Experience performing FACS-based cell sorting.
• Ability to analyze large datasets using Python, R, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with different NGS technologies (Illumina, Ultima).
• Experience using automation to scale, streamline, and optimize large-scale experiments.

Responsibilities

• Execute large in vitro perturbation screens in diverse cell types to generate high quality single-cell perturbation datasets.
• Work with our interdisciplinary teams to further optimize functional genomics platforms and CRISPR technologies for large-scale data generation.
• Utilize project management systems to track progress and adhere to timelines, and document experimental data on ELN/LIMS in an organized manner.
• Interact cross-functionally with wet lab, computational, and machine learning teams to generate, analyze, and interpret data.
• Present key research findings at internal meetings and seminars, and external conferences.

What This Job Offers

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