Senior Scientist I, Synthetic Biology

About Generate:Biomedicines

Generate:Biomedicines is a new kind of therapeutics company – existing at the intersection of machine learning, biological engineering, and medicine – pioneering Generative Biology™ to create breakthrough medicines where novel therapeutics are computationally generated, instead of being discovered. The Company has built a machine learning-powered biomedicines platform with the potential to generate new drugs across a wide range of biologic modalities. This platform represents a potentially fundamental shift in what is possible in the field of biotherapeutic development.

We pursue this audacious vision because we believe in the unique and revolutionary power of generative biology to radically transform the lives of billions, with an outsized opportunity for patients in need. We are seeking collaborative, relentless problem solvers that share our passion for impact to join us!

Generate:Biomedicines was founded in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering and has received nearly $700 millionin funding, providing the resources to rapidly scale the organization. The Company has offices in Somerville and Andover, Massachusetts with 300+ employees.

The Role:

We are seeking a highly innovative and motivated Senior Scientist to join Generate’s Prototyping Lab. This group operates at the crossroads of synthetic biology (DNA library design and ultra–high-throughput screening technologies) and machine learning, building groundbreaking biological and biochemical workflows that power large-scale data generation.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong record of achievement in experimental synthetic biology, ideally complemented by expertise in computational modeling and/or statistical analysis. This role will focus on conceiving and executing next-generation pooled functional screening strategies, enabling the interrogation of hundreds of thousands of protein variants in a single experiment.

You will thrive in a world-class environment for technology development, working collaboratively with Generate’s Protein Sciences and Machine Learning teams to design approaches that maximize the informational and quantitative yield of our experiments. This is a rare opportunity to lead highly original technology development with significant intellectual freedom, while benefiting from the collaborative, cutting-edge atmosphere of a well-funded biotech startup.

Here's how you will contribute:

• Partner with Synthetic Biology, Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, and Mass Spectrometry teams to design and implement state-of-the-art pooled experiments.
• Apply pooled protein display technologies for screening applications—from conceptualization and experimental design through execution and data analysis.
• Collaborate with Protein Sciences colleagues to identify optimal assay formats and analytical frameworks, ensuring smooth technology transfer into project teams.
• Generate bold, creative, and unconventional experimental ideas, delivering robust data packages to support intellectual property filings.
• Communicate results and insights effectively within cross-functional teams, incorporating feedback with strong scientific presentation and writing skills.
• Ground experimental plans with theoretical analyses, modeling, and critical review of relevant literature.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• PhD with 4+ years of experience, or BSc/MSc with 10+ years, in a relevant discipline (synthetic/systems biology, (bio)physics, biomedical engineering, or related fields).
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing pooled protein binding and functional assays, ideally spanning both in vitro and cell-based systems.
• Proficiency with pooled DNA library design/construction and NGS-based enrichment screening methods.
• Familiarity with recombinant protein library purification, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry-based proteomics sample preparation is a plus.
• Comfort analyzing complex datasets, including writing custom scripts in Python (or similar), and familiarity with modern AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Cursor, LLM-based platforms).
• Strong quantitative mindset, with demonstrated scientific intuition and rigor.
• Proven ability to drive applied biology projects from conception through completion.
• Self-motivated, intellectually curious, and eager to both learn from and mentor colleagues.

Who will love this job:

• Creative scientists who are passionate about building next-generation experimental platforms.
• Biologists who excel at working synergistically with computational partners to solve ambitious problems.

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Generate:Biomedicines is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Generate:Biomedicines does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Generate:Biomedicines or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by the Company’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Generate:Biomedicines and the Company will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.