Principal Scientist, Cell Pharmacology

About the Company

Parabilis Medicines is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines for serious diseases by pursuing biologically important targets that have long been considered difficult or impossible to drug. The company has created a novel alpha-helical peptide platform, Helicons™, designed to modulate intracellular proteins beyond the reach of standard therapies. Its lead candidate, zolucatetide, is currently the only direct inhibitor of the β-catenin:TCF interaction and is being studied in several Wnt/β-catenin-driven diseases, including desmoid tumors, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and multiple solid tumor settings. The company is also advancing other Helicon-based programs against additional high-value targets.

Role Overview

Parabilis Medicines is looking for a highly experienced and strategic Cell Pharmacology leader to advance cellular and molecular biology research in support of its Helicon peptide platform. This role sits within the Biology organization and partners closely with Platform, Data Science, and Discovery Sciences teams to move programs forward. The position is central to building and executing innovative cell-based assay strategies that help identify, prioritize, and advance hits into lead candidates across oncology and other areas of significant unmet need.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the creation, refinement, and rollout of high-throughput cellular and molecular assays that support early discovery efforts across the biology team.
• Act as the internal expert on target-engagement and functional assays, advising discovery teams on assay strategy and interpretation.
• Supervise and mentor a small group of team members involved in cell-based assay development and screening, both internally and with external partners.
• Work with the biology lead and other functional leaders to iteratively advance Helicon discovery, inform SAR, and support development candidate selection.
• Own a new biology LIMS initiative, ensure rigorous QC of cell-based data, and oversee data uploads so information is easily accessible across functions.
• Partner with the EVP of Discovery Biology to monitor rollout and implementation progress across the department.
• Help shape the planning of IND-enabling studies and support a smooth handoff from discovery into development.
• Present experimental results clearly in cross-functional discussions and leadership forums to guide decisions.
• Coach junior scientists and act as a technical resource to strengthen scientific rigor and support professional growth.
• Identify and assess new assay formats, platforms, and technologies that could improve internal capabilities.
• Contribute actively to a collaborative, fast-moving scientific culture focused on advancing oncology therapies.
• Use AI tools effectively in day-to-day work; baseline familiarity is expected, and more advanced or creative use is considered an advantage.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in cancer biology, molecular biology, or a related field, paired with more than 15 years of industry experience in drug discovery and cellular biology.
• Background in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Strong record of designing and running sophisticated cell-based assays such as HTRF, AlphaLISA, NanoBRET, HiBiT, and MSD to study intracellular pathways and support SAR.
• Substantial experience leading high-throughput cellular screening efforts and evaluating multiparametric data for lead prioritization.
• Deep hands-on knowledge of mammalian cell culture, CRISPR/RNAi gene modulation, western blotting, qPCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and high-content imaging.
• Practical familiarity with data management tools such as Dotmatics, including strong documentation, data integration, and collaborative analysis habits.
• Preferably recognized through peer-reviewed publications or patents.
• People management experience is strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, plus the ability to influence across scientific and functional teams.
• Strong independence, collaboration skills, prioritization ability, and comfort working in a fast-paced research environment.
• Must be able to work on-site and attend in-person meetings.

Values and Culture

Parabilis Medicines describes its team as passionate pioneers working to reshape precision medicine and improve patient outcomes. The company emphasizes a workplace culture built around curiosity, humility, adaptability, collaboration, patient impact, and a commitment to tackling exceptionally difficult scientific challenges.

Core Values

• Growth-minded: The organization aims to create a new class of medicines and values curiosity, humility, and adaptability.
• In(ter)dependent: The team combines independence with collaboration to challenge the limits of current therapeutic approaches.
• Patient-focused: Scientific work is guided by patient benefit and real-world impact.
• All-In: The company is fully committed to solving hard problems and delivering transformative therapies.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual base salary for this role is $160,000 to $190,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal considerations. The overall compensation package also includes a target annual bonus, equity, and a comprehensive benefits offering designed to support employee well-being.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Parabilis Medicines is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from all backgrounds. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Location

Cambridge, MA 02140.