VP, Bioassays, Cell Models, and Genomic Screening

About the role

At Insitro, you will drive the strategic vision and execution of the CellML platform by leading the development and integration of human disease-relevant cell models. You will craft innovative bioassays and oversee cell-based arrayed and pooled optical screening platforms to accelerate target and drug discovery. This role requires close collaboration with senior management and cross-functional teams in therapeutic areas, functional genomics, drug discovery, automation, and machine learning. You will ensure that all models, assays, and screening efforts align precisely with the demands of the discovery pipeline and platform execution. This is an opportunity to join a well-funded AI biotech that is building a robust pipeline of therapeutic candidates from the ground up. You will shape Insitro's culture and strategic direction while working alongside brilliant minds in data science, biology, and automation. Your expertise will directly influence the success of our discovery platforms and have a profound impact on patients.

Key facts

What you'll do

Drive Insitro's discovery engine by setting the strategic vision for cell models, image-based and genomic screens, as well as bioassay development and execution across all therapeutic areas, fueling our target and drug discovery ML engine.

Provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership in the development, validation, and implementation of disease-relevant cell models, genomic screening (phenotypic pooled optical screening and arrayed screening), and supporting assay development for drug discovery.

Direct, establish, and design bioassays and phenotypic screens to deeply investigate target and pathway biology using human disease-relevant cell-based models.

Serve as the Subject Matter Expert for internal and external biochemical and bioassay strategy and data interpretation for high-throughput drug discovery, including small molecules, large molecules, and oligonucleotides, while supporting CRO monitoring and outsourced activities.

Lead and mentor a team of 20+ scientists, empowering them to achieve and exceed company goals through guidance, development, and performance management.

Champion innovation by leading the validation and implementation of cutting-edge cell models, genomic screening platforms, and assay methodologies that integrate with automated workflows.

Design and execute high-content imaging and genomic screening strategies that generate robust, quantitative biological data to inform machine learning models and target prioritization.

Establish rigorous quality and data integrity standards for all assays and screens to ensure reproducibility, scalability, and decision-grade evidence for pipeline advancement.

Partner with automation, data science, and engineering teams to translate assay requirements into technical solutions that optimize throughput, reliability, and insight generation.

Represent Insitro in external scientific interactions, including conferences, collaborations, and regulatory engagements, to articulate the value and capabilities of our platforms.

Requirements

A graduate degree in a technical field (biology, chemistry, biochemistry) or equivalent practical experience.

12-15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.

Proven experience leading assay development and screening teams, with a keen eye for developing high-throughput workflows, applying automation tools, and driving operational excellence concepts to enable efficient execution.

Extensive experience with a wide spectrum of state-of-the-art cellular, biochemical, and imaging-based assays.

Deep expertise in developing cell-based models and assays that measure disease-relevant biology.

Experience navigating complex genetic, small molecule, large molecule, and oligonucleotide cellular assays.

Familiarity with using computational biology and/or machine learning concepts to generate profound biological insights.

A strong track record of successfully leading high-performing scientific teams.

Exceptional communication and influencing skills at all organizational levels, including executive leadership.

Robust analytical capabilities, including strong quantitative and qualitative assessment skills, and demonstrated critical thinking.

A true collaborator who excels at working effectively in cross-functional teams.

Strong leadership, mentoring, and team-building abilities.

A genuine passion for making a difference in the world.

Nice to have

Experience in preclinical bioassays and analytical development.

Experience with iPSC-based differentiated cell models.

Experience applying Design of Experiments (DOE) for the development of cell models and screening parameters.

Practical notes

You will report to the Chief Technical Operations Officer at our South San Francisco office, with at least three days a week onsite. Some travel for conferences, collaborations, and regulatory interactions may also be required.