Scientist, Lead Generation Biology

Neurocrine Biosciences • San Diego, CA

1d

About The Position

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading neuroscience-focused, biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering and developing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, neuroendocrine and neuropsychiatric disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, endometriosis and uterine fibroids, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X and Facebook. (in collaboration with AbbVie) About the Role: We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Scientist to join our Lead Generation Biology team. This individual will be primarily responsible for developing, optimizing, and executing weekly in vitro pharmacology assays, as well as conducting molecular mechanism exploration and target occupancy studies in support of lead optimization campaigns in the context of multidisciplinary teams. The role will involve critical analysis of assay data to guide the identification and optimization of lead compounds, alongside thorough documentation and presentation of results. Our collaborative, fast-paced work environment emphasizes efficiency and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree and 2+ years of relevant experience, including practical experience with a broad range of in vitro biological assays
• MS/MA degree in Molecular Pharmacology with similar experience as noted above OR PhD in Molecular Pharmacology or related field with similar experience as noted above
• Collaborative and highly motivated
• Hands-on experience conducting in vitro assays for diverse pharmacological targets, such as SLC transporters, GPCRs, ion channels, and kinases
• Experience with binding and functional assay formats (e.g., radiometric, fluorescence-based, or imaging-based assays)
• Experience evaluating engineered constructs to investigate ligand binding and structure-function relationships
• Outstanding experimental design, problem-solving, and data analysis skills
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), time management, organizational and interpersonal skills to ensure operational excellence of daily laboratory needs
• Enthusiasm for developing and expanding technical and theoretical knowledge base
• Ability to meet deadlines

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in molecular pharmacology and/or chemical biology preferred
• Experience and knowledge of mammalian cell culture and aseptic techniques
• Experience using laboratory automation and inventory systems, and developing assays adaptable to higher-throughput workflows
• Strong quantitative data analysis skills (e.g., GraphPad Prism, Excel, or similar tools) for dose-response modeling and assay interpretation
• Working knowledge of Excel, GraphPad Prism and Spotfire software helpful
• Working knowledge of LIMS systems preferred

Responsibilities

• Perform routine assays to support lead identification campaigns
• Develop, optimize, and conduct functional and binding assays to support profiling of molecules and mechanism of action studies
• Support in vivo and ex vivo receptor occupancy efforts
• Demonstrate clear understanding of assay design, underlying biological mechanisms, and data interpretation
• Rapidly learn, implement, and adapt new assay platforms and quantitative analysis methods across different modalities
• Collaborate with computational chemistry teams to support structure-based drug design (SBDD) efforts, integrating mutagenesis, functional assay data, and modeling insights to inform structure–function relationships and compound optimization
• Assist with generating and maintaining cell lines and perform assays for their characterization, including supporting structure-function and mechanism of action studies
• Assist with process improvements to enhance efficiency and research quality
• Track and document assay performance
• Effectively multitask and advance various projects simultaneously without compromising data quality or reproducibility
• Work independently as well as in a team environment toward timely execution of shared team deliverables

Benefits

• retirement savings plan (with company match)
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior