Research Leader (In-vitro Pharmacology, Exploratory Sciences), London

Isomorphic Labs is applying frontier AI to help unlock deeper scientific insights, faster breakthroughs, and life-changing medicines with an ambition to solve all disease. The future is coming. A future enabled and enriched by the incredible power of machine learning. A future in which diseases are curtailed or cured starting with better and faster drug discovery. Come and be part of an interdisciplinary team driving groundbreaking innovation and play a meaningful role in contributing towards us achieving our ambitious goals, while being a part of an inspiring and collaborative culture.

About Iso

Isomorphic Labs (IsoLabs) was launched in 2021 to advance human health by building on and beyond the Nobel-winning AlphaFold system. Since then, our interdisciplinary team of drug discovery experts and machine learning specialists has built powerful new predictive and generative AI models that accelerate scientific discovery at digital speed. Our name comes from the belief that there is an underlying symmetry between biology and information science. By harnessing AI’s powerful capabilities, we can use it to model complex biological phenomena to help design novel molecules, anticipate how drugs will perform and develop innovative medicines to treat and cure some of the world’s most devastating diseases.

About the Exploratory Sciences Team

You will be joining the expanding “Exploratory Sciences” team, focused on tackling proteins which are critical for disease biology, but have been traditionally considered intractable. We are a multidisciplinary team within the Drug Design and Medical Research function at Isomorphic Labs. We work where machine learning, chemical biology and drug discovery meet, applying the Isomorphic Labs platform to some of the hardest problems in the field. Our work goes beyond individual targets. We explore emerging therapeutic modalities, molecular glues and peptides to modalities that don't have a playbook yet. We also design the data generation strategies that make these modalities workable for AI-driven design. The experiments we run don't just move drug-discovery programmes forward - They shape the models that power Iso's drug design engine. We're as comfortable in silico as we are at the bench. Our scientists build and test hypotheses computationally, use LLM-based agentic workflows in their daily science, and work alongside ML researchers and engineers on Platform builds. We work closely with teams across Isomorphic Labs, so ideas move quickly from model to real world experiments and back again, keeping the goal of drug discovery and development front and centre. Above all, we're curious and ambitious, and we care about growth. We put continuous learning and development first, because we're building the next generation of drug discovery scientists.

Your impact

We're looking for an accomplished in vitro pharmacology leader to build and lead a team of biologists in Exploratory Sciences, and to shape how Iso tests and validates new therapeutic modalities. You'll own the experimental pharmacology strategy across our exploratory portfolio. You'll decide which questions are worth asking, which assays and cascades will answer them, and what "decision-quality" means for modalities that don't have an established playbook yet. Your judgement will directly shape which ideas move forward. You'll make the data count twice. Every experiment your team designs should move a programme forward and also make our models smarter. You'll work out if the platform has a blind-spot, then innovate on assays to generate the datasets that fill it. The result is a closer loop between in silico predictions and experimental results. You'll set the standard for how modern biologists work. You'll lead by example in using LLM agentic workflows and in silico hypothesis building, and help your team make them a natural part of daily science. Working as an equal partner with ML, engineering and computational colleagues, you'll help shape the tools your team relies on. You'll mentor a team of research investigators who are experienced bench scientists and fluent in applying creative ai-first approaches to drug discovery, and help them become the leaders Exploratory Sciences needs as it continues to expand.

What you will do:

• Modality Strategy & Target Prosecution: Set the in vitro pharmacology vision for exploratory programmes across TPD, molecular glues, peptides and next-generation modalities. Assess the tractability of new modalities against challenging targets and set rigorous go/no-go criteria.
• Screening Cascades & Mechanistic Pharmacology: Turn therapeutic concepts and TPPs into rigorous screening cascades for internal and partnered programmes. Lead the design of biochemical, biophysical (e.g. SPR/GCI, nanoDSF, Spectral Shift, MST) and bespoke screening cascades for novel modalities. Develop quantitative assays covering binding kinetics, ternary complexes, degradation and functional pathway readouts (e.g. HiBiT, NanoBRET, TR-FRET). Work closely with medicinal chemistry and DMPK to drive SAR and compound de-risking. Set data quality, ontology and QC standards so that internal and CRO data are ML-ready from the start.
• AI, Agentic Workflows & Platform Builds: Champion the use and co-development of LLM agentic workflows to speed up hypothesis generation, experimental design and data synthesis. Work with ML and engineering teams on Platform builds, contributing biological domain expertise to model and workflow design. Test in silico hypotheses rigorously in the wet lab and build plans that move programmes forward and fill systematic gaps in our models. Give stakeholders and collaborative teams critical biological input to guide generative design for new modalities.
• Scientific Leadership & External Partnerships: Lead a team of Research and Senior Research Investigators, with roughly a 50:50 split between scientific direction and people and CRO leadership. Design, manage and lead execution on CRO and academic studies that deliver decision-quality data.

Skills and qualifications

Essential:

• PhD or equivalent industrial/research experience in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology or a related discipline, with significant years in biotech or pharma drug discovery.
• Expert knowledge of in vitro pharmacology and biophysics, including designing robust screening cascades from Target ID through Hit-to-Lead and Lead Optimisation.
• Hands-on experience with one or more novel modalities (e.g. TPD, molecular glues, peptides, induced proximity).
• Proven experience leading and developing scientists and managing CRO studies.
• Experience with, or clear enthusiasm for, LLM agentic workflows, in silico hypothesis building and data-driven discovery.
• Highly collaborative, agile, and motivated by a fast-moving, interdisciplinary environment with ability to work across many projects and therapeutic areas.
• Effective communication across a broad interdisciplinary team, working with key stakeholders with different skills and backgrounds.

Nice to have:

• Experience validating virtual screens, de novo designs or ML-predicted binders.
• Experience with lab automation and high-throughput data infrastructure.
• Scripting or data analysis skills (e.g. Python, R) or experience building agents or prompts for scientific workflows.
• Track record of authorship of relevant scientific manuscripts, patents etc.

Culture and values

We are guided by our shared values. It's not about finding people who think and act in the same way. These values help to guide our work and will continue to strengthen it.

• Thoughtful: Thoughtful at Iso is about curiosity, creativity and care. It is about good people doing good, rigorous and future-making science every single day.
• Brave: Brave at Iso is about fearlessness, but it’s also about initiative and integrity. The scale of the challenge demands nothing less.
• Determined: Determined at Iso is the way we pursue our goal. It’s a confidence in our hypothesis, as well as the urgency and agility needed to deliver on it. Because disease won’t wait, so neither should we.
• Together: Together at Iso is about connection, collaboration across fields and catalytic relationships. It’s knowing that transformation is a group project, and remembering that what we’re doing will have a real impact on real people everywhere.

Creating an extraordinary company

We believe that to be successful we need a team with a range of skills and talents. We're building an environment where collaboration is fundamental, learning is shared and every employee feels supported and able to thrive. We value unique experiences, knowledge, backgrounds, and perspectives, and harness these qualities to create extraordinary impact. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Hybrid working

It’s hugely important for us to share knowledge and build strong relationships with each other, and we find it easier to do this if we spend time together in person. This is why we follow a hybrid model, and would require you to be able to come into the office 3 days a week (currently Tuesday, Wednesday, and one other day depending on which team you’re in). If you have additional needs that would prevent you from following this hybrid approach, we’d be happy to talk through these if you’re selected for an initial screening call.