Scientist, Cell Biology & Assay Development

Job Description

Octant is looking for a Scientist with a strong background in molecular biology, cell engineering, and high-throughput screening who is excited to build the assays that move small-molecule corrector programs toward the clinic. You will join our lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) team, working on two small-molecule corrector programs: Fabry disease and an additional target. You will design and run cell-based assays that characterize our correctors, confirm their target pharmacology, and measure how they act across hundreds to thousands of disease-associated variants. The data you generate will directly inform which molecules advance, shape the direction of active drug discovery programs, and support regulatory filings.

You are motivated by Octant's mission and have a team-first mindset. You bring deep expertise in assay development, excellent communication, and an ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Although the day-to-day work is centered on mammalian cells, what matters most to us is a strong track record of designing mechanistic assays, and we welcome candidates trained in molecular biology, cell biology, chemical biology, biochemistry, or related fields. You use AI tools as a routine part of your work, from analyzing data and building workflows to getting up to speed on new biology.

As a part of Octant's LSD team, you'll:

• Design, develop, and validate cell-based assays that characterize small-molecule correctors for Fabry disease and an additional target and verify their target pharmacology, using plate-reader, high-content imaging, and flow cytometry readouts
• Engineer mammalian cell models, including reporter lines, knock-in/knock-out lines, and variant libraries, using cloning and genome engineering, and adapt assays to disease-relevant primary cells
• Characterize corrector response across disease variants at scale using both arrayed and pooled formats, including deep mutational scanning (DMS) with NGS-based readouts
• Transition assays from development into high throughput production - either running them directly or handing them off with clear, reproducible SOPs - to support weekly design-make-test-learn cycles with our chemistry and ML teams
• Analyze, QC, and interpret your data, using AI tools to accelerate analysis, automate workflows, and synthesize the literature
• Contribute to study reports and documentation supporting regulatory submissions, including IND-enabling packages
• Work hand-in-hand with biologists, chemists, machine learning scientists, and automation engineers

This job might be great for you if you:

• Have a PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Genetics, or a related field, with 0–2 years of postdoctoral or industry experience; an MS with 6+ years of industry experience; or a BS/BA with 8+ years of industry experience
• Have a strong track record of designing mechanistic assays that answer clear biological questions
• Have hands-on experience with some or all of: molecular biology and cloning, mammalian cell culture, and cell engineering (e.g., lentiviral delivery, CRISPR-based editing, stable cell line generation)
• Have developed and run assays in one or more of the following formats: flow cytometry, imaging, plate-reader assays, or NGS-based readouts
• Have experience with high-throughput or pooled screening (e.g., arrayed compound screens, DMS, or CRISPR screens); experience with liquid-handling automation is a plus
• Are familiar with protein folding and trafficking, lysosomal biology, or Fabry disease (a plus, not required)
• Are comfortable analyzing data in Python or R, and actively use AI tools (e.g., LLM assistants and coding agents) for data analysis, workflow generation, and knowledge work
• Keep careful, well-documented records suitable for data that may support regulatory filings
• Enjoy working seamlessly across functions
• Are detail-oriented and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, team-oriented startup environment