Scientist I/II, Therapeutic Technologies

Scientist I/II, Therapeutic Technologies - GPCR Pharmacology & Metabolic disease | South San Francisco, CA |  Full-Time

Company
Addition Therapeutics is at the forefront of biotechnology innovation and is building the next generation of gene therapy using our proprietary PRINT™ (Programmable RNA-guided Integration Technology) platform. PRINT™ redefines genetic medicine by enabling development of RNA-only therapeutics capable of inserting any genetic element into specific safe harbor sites within the genome. Operating from state-of-the-art labs in South San Francisco, we are a Series A-stage company with programs across rare and common diseases.

The Role
We are looking for a Scientist I or II to join our Therapeutic Technologies team, focused on GPCR pharmacology and disease assay development. This is a hands-on research role: you’ll build the cell-based and in vivo assays that evaluate PRINT-delivered payloads in disease-relevant contexts, from early discovery through IND-enabling studies.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in GPCR biology - receptor signaling, ligand pharmacology, internalization, and the downstream functional consequences of receptor activation. You know how to translate that expertise into rigorous assays that answer real therapeutic questions. Familiarity with cardiometabolic-disease-relevant GPCRs. You’ll work closely with our RNA sciences and protein engineering teams to define program-specific success metrics and help us achieve them.

About the Role
The day-to-day responsibilities of this role will include:

• Design, develop, and validate cell-based pharmacology assays for GPCR targets - including cAMP, beta-arrestin recruitment, receptor internalization, and pathway-selective (biased agonism) readouts that can differentiate construct performance across the combinatorial screening space.


• Apply deep mechanistic fluency in GPCR pharmacology to guide candidate prioritization, model selection, and assay design. Inform interpretation of in vivo results based on mechanistic insights generated from in vitro pharmacology studies


• Execute in vitro assays using primary cells and disease-relevant cell lines to characterize PRINT-delivered payload activity, including where applicable adipocytes, hepatocytes, pancreatic, and neuronal models.


• Support in vivo studies in rodent disease models, including study design and pharmacodynamic endpoint analysis.


• Apply quantitative molecular techniques (ddPCR, qPCR, ELISA, Western blot, flow cytometry) to characterize transgene expression, protein secretion, and PD endpoints.


• Work with HTS infrastructure and liquid handling automation to scale assay throughput as programs expand


• Collaborate with computational biology and protein engineering colleagues to close the loop between payload design and functional readout.


• Contribute to data packages supporting IND-enabling studies, partnership diligence, and investor milestones.

What We’re Looking For

Required

• D. in biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, or a closely related field (relevant industry experience considered in lieu of Ph.D.)


• Hands-on experience with GPCR pharmacology assays -receptor signaling, internalization, cAMP/arrestin assays, or similar


• Strong cell culture skills: primary cells or iPSC-derived models


• Proficiency across standard molecular/biochemical assay platforms: ELISA, ddPCR, qPCR, Western blot, flow cytometry


• Ability to independently design experiments, troubleshoot, and interpret data with minimal hand-holding


• Clear, organized scientific communicator, comfortable presenting data to cross-functional audiences

Preferred

• Experience with obesity- or metabolic-disease-relevant GPCRs and the pharmacology of incretin-class or other anti-obesity therapeutics


• Familiarity with metabolic phenotyping endpoints (body composition, energy expenditure, glucose/insulin tolerance, lipid profiling) and disease-relevant tissue biology (adipose, liver, gut, hypothalamus)


• Experience with secreted protein biology or hormone pharmacology in a disease context


• Familiarity with HTS or automated liquid handling platforms


• Experience with gene therapy, mRNA, or RNA-based therapeutic modalities


• Exposure to NHP or translational PK/PD study design

Why Addition

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  • You’ll be an early scientific contributor to a program with real momentum -novel biology, a differentiated platform, and partnerships that validate the direction.
  
  
  • Small team, high autonomy. Your assays will directly inform program decisions, not sit in a queue.
  
  
  • Work at the intersection of cutting-edge gene therapy and high-value disease biology.
  
  
  • Competitive salary, equity, and benefits. South San Francisco location with a collaborative, no-nonsense lab culture.
  
  
  
  

Compensation 

The expected annual salary range for this full-time position is $121,000 - $152,000  plus eligibility for bonus, benefits, and equity incentives. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, business needs, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.