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Salary: USD 136,000 - 170,000 / annual
Xaira Therapeutics is an AI-driven biotech startup pioneering generative AI models for protein and antibody drug design, targeting historically difficult-to-drug molecular targets. The company develops foundation models for biology and disease to improve target identification and patient stratification.
You will architect and lead in vivo CRISPR screening initiatives, driving high-throughput functional genomics at the intersection of mouse models, data science, and AI/ML. This is a senior individual contributor role with mentorship responsibilities, ideal for a discovery scientist who translates data-driven insights into therapeutic research.
Key responsibilities include: developing and scaling CRISPR-based screening protocols in mouse models to uncover genotype-phenotype relationships; driving innovation in experimental workflows and methodologies; partnering with computational biology and AI/ML teams to analyze large-scale functional genomics datasets; identifying and resolving data generation challenges including assay reproducibility and quality control; independently managing multiple projects with timely delivery of high-quality data; maintaining accurate experimental records and contributing to scientific presentations; mentoring junior staff and research associates; leading strategic project planning and long-term program development; and overseeing complex cross-functional collaborations with internal and external partners.
Required qualifications: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Pharmacology, or related field with 4+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience. Strong hands-on experience with in vivo genetic manipulation (lentiviral or AAV delivery in mice), mouse handling, colony management, and in vivo experimentation with understanding of animal welfare and regulatory standards. Familiarity with perturb-seq and single-cell genomics. Ability to troubleshoot technical issues, adapt to new protocols, and optimize methodologies. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with track record of presenting complex results to multidisciplinary teams. Demonstrated success in collaborative, fast-paced team environments.
Preferred: familiarity with spatial omics and new readout methods; data analysis experience in Python or R; prior in vivo CRISPR screening experience.
