Scientist, Delivery Screening Technology, Horns Lab

Location: Palo Alto, California, United States

Base salary: $121,250–$159,500 per year, plus eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus.

Company

hirify.global is an independent nonprofit research organization working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biology to accelerate scientific progress and understand complex diseases.

What you will do

• Lead the development, validation, and scaling of pooled screening technology for biological nanoparticle delivery.
• Design molecular reporters to measure cellular entry and cargo release by delivery vehicles.
• Construct pooled libraries of engineered delivery vehicles and cellular components and run sequencing-based screens.
• Scale proof-of-concept platforms to large multiplexed screens and engineer improved delivery vehicles.
• Design validation experiments, analyze sequencing data, and develop computational analysis pipelines.
• Collaborate across laboratories and Technology Centers, present findings, maintain records, and mentor Research Associates.

Requirements

• PhD in cell or molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a related field, with 0–5 years of relevant post-PhD experience.
• End-to-end experience with pooled screening, including library design and construction, screen execution, NGS readout, hit calling, and analysis.
• Experience developing and validating quantitative molecular assays from scratch, with strong troubleshooting skills.
• Hands-on proficiency in mammalian cell culture, cell engineering, construct design, cloning, genetically modified cell characterization, and flow cytometry.
• Ability to analyze large and complex datasets using Python, R, or similar tools, with strong quantitative and experimental design skills.
• Strong project management, communication, organization, and collaboration skills in a fast-paced environment.

Nice to have

• Mammalian synthetic biology, reporter design, or genetic circuit engineering.
• Protein engineering, directed evolution, deep mutational scanning, computational protein design, or genome mining.
• Cell biology or virology experience, including endocytosis, receptor trafficking, endosomal escape, viral entry, fusogens, pseudotyping, or egress.
• Animal handling and procedures.
• Experience with drug delivery, nanomedicine, extracellular vesicles, viral vectors, or lipid nanoparticles.

Culture & Benefits

• Long-term research funding and industry-like resources without commercial pressure.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration across experimental biology, computational biology, AI/ML, RNA biology, RNA medicine, single-cell genomics, and genome engineering.
• Opportunity to pursue high-risk, long-term research and build new molecular technologies.
• Work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with opportunities to present research internally and externally.
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV and brief cover letter describing research interests, intended projects, and fit with the Horns Lab.
• Include contact information for at least three references.