Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead drug discovery from concept to clinical trials, shaping innovative therapies.
- Company: Join a pioneering AI-driven biotech focused on impactful treatments.
- Benefits: Flexible work options, competitive salary, and the chance to shape your role.
- Why this job: Be a founding scientist and make a real difference in biotech innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in translational biology or early development; strong biological understanding.
- Other info: Opportunity to build a unique biotech culture with a dynamic founding team.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
Location: Zurich - remote, hybrid or relocation.
Have you ever wanted to take full ownership of a drug discovery programme, from initial idea through to first in human? This is an opportunity to join a venture-backed, AI native biotech at the earliest stage and play a central role in shaping how programmes are built, prioritised and advanced. You will not be inheriting a function. You will be helping define it.
About the company
Our client is building a new type of biotech. A small, high agency team focused on developing novel therapies for diseases with limited treatment options, using a combination of modern AI-enabled biology and a highly leveraged external model. Rather than scaling large internal teams, they partner with best-in-class computational and wet lab CROs, allowing them to run multiple programmes in parallel while staying lean and focused. The founding team brings deep expertise in AI-driven biology and early discovery, with an ambition to build a new generation of virtual biotech capable of moving quickly from idea to clinical validation.
The role
This is a founding-level hire, intentionally broad in scope and high in impact. You will operate across the full lifecycle of drug discovery and early development, with real ownership of programmes rather than a narrow functional remit.
Key responsibilities include:
- Defining and prioritising therapeutic programmes, including target selection and disease focus
- Shaping translational strategy, including biomarker plans and disease models
- Identifying programme risks and designing mitigation strategies
- Driving preclinical development from concept through to IND enabling studies
- Working closely with CRO partners across both computational and experimental workflows
- Helping build the scientific and operational foundations of the company
You will also play a role in company building, from engaging external experts to selecting tools and shaping how work gets done.
What they are looking for
There is no single background that defines the right profile. This could suit:
- A senior scientist in translational biology or early development who wants greater ownership
- Someone from a biotech or academic environment who has worked across multiple stages of the discovery process
- A future founder looking to gain hands-on experience at the earliest stage of company building
- An individual with strong biological depth and a clear track record of learning quickly across disciplines
Core attributes include:
- Deep biological understanding, in any relevant discipline
- High agency and comfort operating in ambiguity
- Strong intellectual curiosity and ability to self-direct learning
- Familiarity with modern AI tools in biology, even if not building them directly
- A practical mindset around translating science into viable programmes
What sets you apart
- Experience identifying and validating therapeutic targets or pathways
- Exposure to both discovery and preclinical development
- Evidence of building something meaningful, whether research, tools or programmes
- Interest or experience in immunology, neurodegeneration or related areas
Why this role
This is not a typical hire into an established structure. It is an opportunity to shape both the science and the way the company operates, working closely with a founding team that is already thinking differently about how biotech should be built.
Process
The process will involve an initial discussion, followed by deeper technical and strategic conversations with the founders. Timing is flexible, but the intention is to move with the right individual rather than a fixed deadline.
About Aspire Life Sciences
Aspire Life Sciences partners with founder-led biotech and technology-driven life science companies from early stage through to growth. We support across key leadership and technical hires, as well as advising on team build, structure and hiring strategy at critical inflection points.
If this role is of interest, or you would like to explore whether it aligns with your background, feel free to get in touch directly.
Founding Scientist / Translational Biology Lead in London employer: Aspire Life Sciences Search
Contact Detail:
Aspire Life Sciences Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Scientist / Translational Biology Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the biotech field, especially those who are already working in AI-driven biology. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for drug discovery! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your enthusiasm for taking ownership of projects. Share specific examples of how you've driven initiatives in the past, and how you can bring that energy to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by diving deep into the company’s mission and values. Understand their approach to drug discovery and be ready to discuss how your background aligns with their goals. This shows you’re not just looking for any job, but that you genuinely want to be part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. So, get your CV polished and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Scientist / Translational Biology Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your experience in drug discovery and any relevant projects that showcase your ownership and impact. We want to see how you can fit into our unique biotech environment!
Showcase Your Curiosity: We love candidates who are intellectually curious! In your application, mention any instances where you've gone above and beyond to learn something new or tackle a complex problem. This will show us your passion for translational biology and AI tools.
Be Clear About Your Impact: When discussing your past experiences, focus on the tangible outcomes of your work. Whether it’s identifying therapeutic targets or leading a project, we want to know how your contributions made a difference. Numbers and specific examples can really help here!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aspire Life Sciences Search
✨Know Your Science Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the latest advancements in translational biology and drug discovery. Brush up on key concepts, especially those related to AI tools in biology, as this role demands a deep biological understanding and the ability to translate science into viable programmes.
✨Showcase Your Ownership Mindset
This position is all about taking ownership, so be prepared to discuss examples from your past where you've led projects or initiatives. Highlight your experience in identifying therapeutic targets or pathways and how you've navigated ambiguity in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Strategic Conversations
Expect to engage in discussions about defining and prioritising therapeutic programmes. Think about how you would approach target selection and disease focus, and be ready to share your thoughts on shaping translational strategies and mitigating programme risks.
✨Demonstrate Your Curiosity and Adaptability
The company values intellectual curiosity and the ability to learn quickly across disciplines. Be ready to discuss how you've adapted to new challenges in your career and how you stay updated with emerging trends in biotech and AI-driven biology.