Scientist, GPCR Biology - San Diego, CA

dsm-firmenich • San Diego, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

At dsm-firmenich, we decode human perception to create breakthrough taste and mouthfeel solutions. In this role, you will use your expertise in G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) biology, pharmacology and assay development to discover and characterize modulators of receptors involved in taste and oral sensations. You’ll partner closely with Biology, High-Throughput Screening, Chemistry and Data Science teams to translate receptor biology into new ingredient concepts.

Requirements

• PhD in Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Neurobiology, or closely related discipline, with hands-on, experimental expertise in GPCR biology.
• Strong publication record demonstrating in-depth understanding of GPCR signaling and pharmacology, including assay principles, controls, artifacts/interference, and quantitative interpretation (concentration-response modeling, potency/efficacy, bias concepts).
• Strong molecular biology (cloning, transfection, construct design, mutagenesis) and mammalian cell culture skills, with a track record of building reliable cell-based assays.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise with taste receptors, especially sweet and/or bitter taste receptors structure/function and signaling, and experience designing assays/counter screens suited to these targets highly desirable.
• Experience working at the interface of wet‑lab GPCR biology and in silico discovery, including collaboration on docking, structure‑guided SAR, or AI‑enabled screening and prioritization highly desirable.
• Receptor binding assay experience (radioligand or non-radioactive binding, kinetic binding concepts, competition formats) desirable.
• Data analysis skills in R or Python (dose–response fitting, visualization, statistical rigor) desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and run cell-based GPCR assays to study receptor function and enable screening of agonists/antagonists/modulators (e.g., Ca²⁺ flux, cAMP, IP-One/IP3, β-arrestin, reporter gene, BRET/FRET-based readouts, SPRM), including assay optimization for robustness, throughput, and reproducibility.
• Drive GPCR pharmacology and structure–function investigations: interpret potency/efficacy, bias, desensitization/internalization, allosteric modulation, species variants, and key mutagenesis experiments to map binding and signalling determinants.
• Collaborate closely with Data Science and Computational teams to apply in silico drug discovery approaches, including molecular docking, structure‑based modeling, and AI/ML‑driven prediction methods, in support of GPCR discovery programs.
• Document, analyze, and communicate results through clear experimental design, statistics, and data visualization; contribute to internal reports, invention disclosures, and cross-functional decision-making in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• The opportunity to work in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary R&D environment exploring receptors that shape taste and mouthfeel perception and their industrial applications.
• A culture that fosters teamwork, scientific excellence, safety, and well-being, with strong opportunities for learning and growth
• The chance to contribute to innovation platforms that connect receptor biology, sensory science, and data-driven discovery to deliver meaningful consumer experiences.
• bonuses
• benefits

What This Job Offers

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