Principal Scientist, Cancer Biology

About the Role

General Proximity is a seed-stage startup developing the next generation of induced proximity medicines (IPMs). Our OmniTAC drug discovery engine furnishes molecules that co-opt existing cellular machinery to overcome therapeutic challenges which have remained unapproachable to other modalities for decades. We are seeking a first-rate cancer biologist to help us pioneer this uncharted frontier of drug discovery.

About You

• High Agency. Initiative, independence, and self-accountability are some of our most valued traits.
• Enthusiastic. We love people who are excited about what they are doing and are generally attempting to build a high-energy team.
• Intensity and Grit. Early-stage startups are hard. Drug discovery is doubly so. We are looking for candidates who have a demonstrated ability to stick with complex problems for the long haul, with a team that has your back along the way.
• Prosocial. We are here to create life-saving medicines for the patients who need it most. You should be, too.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, or related field
• 5-7+ years of industry experience
• Deep understanding of small-molecule drug discovery and its relationship to human disease
• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with a track record of managing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams
• Strong experience with:
  • Cellular and molecular biology, including cancer cell line work and associated assays, stable cell line generation (lentiviral and CRISPR-based systems), co-IP/pull-down assays, RNA-seq, global proteomics, flow cytometry, plasmid design/cloning etc.
  • Pre-clinical characterization and mechanistic elucidation of small-molecule drug candidates
  • Mechanistic studies of cancer cell signaling and PTM analysis
  • Phenotypic assay development for cancer drug discovery (low to high throughput)
  • Small molecule drug development campaigns (hit discovery, hit validation, dose-response studies, SAR and MOA studies)
• Proficiency in:
  • Managing a team of exceptional scientists and research associates
  • Target/indication selection
  • Animal models of cancer (GEMM, orthotopic, xenograft models), in vivo study design, and PK/PD interpretation
  • Managing CROs for in vitro and in vivo studies
  • Grant writing

Nice to Have

• Experience navigating IND-enabling studies and working on teams that have successfully advanced research to the clinic
• Experience working at the interface of cancer biology and chemistry
• Familiarity or experience with PROTAC/next-gen IPM technologies
• Experience with PPI techniques (e.g., BRET, APEX/BioID, AlphaScreen etc.)

Benefits

• Strong equity incentives
• Top tier medical, dental, and vision coverage + One Medical membership
• 401(k) retirement plans
• Education and health/fitness incentive programs
• Meditation retreats—do a ten-day Vipassana retreat without counting towards vacation days
• Reading budget—we will buy you books
• Located in the MBC BioLabs at 135 Mississippi Street, an entrepreneurial hub full of the best scientists and operators the Bay Area has to offer. Our lab is a very short walk from the 22nd St Caltrain Station and a number of wonderful restaurants and cafés

About Us

• Work Hard/Play Hard. We believe time is our most valuable commodity, so we strive to create a culture that reflects this. We won't drag you through unnecessary meetings or email you at 7 PM on a Saturday. When we're at work, we're there to get things done, and when we're off, we're really off.
• Strong Communication. We like well-written documents over PowerPoints, OKRs over vague mission statements, and weekly one-on-ones over yearly reviews.
• Writing First. We have a "writing-first" culture. We believe that clarity of writing reflects clarity of thinking and that the benefits of well-written documentation in a scientific environment are innumerable: democratization of ideation and decision-making, increased reproducibility, quicker scaling and onboarding, and better company-wide alignment, to name a few.
• Growth. As an early-stage startup, we value scientists with an independent, can-do attitude. The more hats you can wear, the better. Our job as employers is to put you in positive feedback loops so you can grow in the direction of your choosing.