Scientist II – Endocrinology Discovery
Neurocrine Biosciences•San Diego, CA
•$110,800 - $151,000
About The Position
Neurocrine Biosciences is seeking a highly motivated Scientist II to join its Endocrinology Discovery team, developing innovative therapeutics for obesity, metabolic disorders, and related endocrine diseases. The role contributes to discovery programs investigating hormonal and molecular pathways that regulate energy balance, body weight, metabolism, and body composition. This hands-on laboratory position focuses on target identification and validation, mechanistic biology, and in vitro pharmacology. It uses cellular and molecular approaches to establish the therapeutic potential of novel targets and characterize drug candidates. The successful candidate will have a background in endocrine or metabolic biology and cellular pharmacology, with an interest in translating discoveries into obesity therapeutics.
Requirements
- BS/BA degree in a scientific field and 4 or more years of in vitro pharmacology experience; or an MS/MA degree in a scientific field and 2 or more years of similar experience; or a PhD in biology or a related field, preferred, with some similar experience.
- Strong background in endocrine or metabolic biology, cellular signaling, or in vitro pharmacology.
- Hands-on experience developing and executing cell-based functional assays and mechanistic biology studies.
- Experience with molecular approaches to investigate target function, hormone signaling, or metabolic pathways.
- Proficiency in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology techniques, and quantitative data analysis.
- Ability to design and execute experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges, and critically interpret scientific data.
- Strong scientific communication skills and ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.
Nice To Haves
- Primary cell culture experience, especially CNS, and related assay development.
- Experience with liquid handling automation and LIMS systems.
- Experience with GPCRs and related in vitro assays.
- Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery, particularly in obesity, diabetes, or metabolic diseases.
- Understanding of energy homeostasis, appetite regulation, metabolic physiology, and body composition.
- Experience with endocrine hormone signaling pathways and receptor pharmacology, including GPCRs and other hormone receptors.
- Hands-on experience with cellular assay technologies such as cAMP, calcium mobilization, BRET, NanoBiT, or receptor binding.
- Experience with primary cells, stem cell-derived models, or other physiologically relevant cellular systems.
- Familiarity with transcriptomic, proteomic, or other molecular profiling approaches to investigate target biology.
- Experience with target validation using genetic perturbation approaches, including CRISPR/Cas9, siRNA, shRNA, or viral-mediated gene delivery.
- Experience characterizing peptide therapeutics, small molecules, or engineered biologics.
Responsibilities
- Design and execute in vitro studies to identify and validate therapeutic targets involved in obesity, energy homeostasis, and metabolic regulation.
- Develop and optimize cellular models to investigate endocrine signaling pathways, hormone action, and mechanisms underlying metabolic disease.
- Apply genetic and pharmacological approaches, including gene knockdown, knockout, and overexpression, to establish target function and validate therapeutic hypotheses.
- Establish recombinant, endogenous, and physiologically relevant cellular systems, including primary cells, to investigate target biology and pharmacological activity.
- Develop and execute functional assays to characterize receptor signaling, downstream cellular responses, and mechanisms of action.
- Characterize the potency, efficacy, selectivity, and mechanism of action of therapeutic candidates, including peptides, small molecules, and biologics.
- Investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating metabolic function, body weight, and lean muscle mass preservation.
- Generate experimental data to support target prioritization, proof-of-concept studies, and advancement of endocrine and obesity discovery programs.
- Analyze and interpret experimental results, troubleshoot technical challenges, and communicate findings to multidisciplinary project teams.
- Collaborate with scientists in chemistry, protein engineering, in vivo pharmacology, and translational biology to advance therapeutic discovery.
- Maintain accurate experimental records and contribute to scientific presentations and technical reports.
Benefits
- Annual bonus with a target of 20% of earned base salary.
- Eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program.
- Retirement savings plan with company match.
- Paid vacation, holidays, and personal days.
- Paid caregiver, parental, and medical leave.
- Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
