Research Associate, Primary Pharmacology Milton Park, England

Your work will change lives. Including your own. Recursion is at the forefront of reimagining drug discovery and development through broadening the funnel of potential targets, using technology and standardization to build connected data. As a research scientist in the primary pharmacology department you will design, plan and execute a variety of experiments ensuring that the assays are fit‑for‑purpose, and that data is appropriately quality‑controlled. In our new, state‑of‑the‑art laboratories you will utilize a wide array of assay technologies and automation capabilities. We are committed to deploying the latest advancements and optimising processes for quality and efficiency. You will leverage your scientific and cell‑based expertise to design and implement experiments, driving our drug discovery projects forward.

In this role, you will:

• Develop cell‑based and biochemical assays to help drive development of small molecule therapeutics with a focus on compound characterisation and the rapid identification of candidate molecules.
• Implement latest scientific developments and evaluate new technologies.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional project teams to drive drug discovery programs forward by producing decision‑making data in a timely manner.
• Engage in continual learning and development, gaining exposure to multiple scientific disciplines and the drug discovery process, from initial target identification through to candidate selection.

The Team You’ll Join

You will join the Primary Pharmacology team, who are based in Milton Park, Abingdon, at Recursion. The Primary Pharmacology team is a group of project‑facing biochemists and cell biology scientists that support drug discovery projects from target validation to candidate selection. Core functions within this team include assay development, HTS, routine screening, cell culture, and automation.

The Experience You’ll Need

• BSc/MSc/Ph.D. in Oncology, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related discipline; or equivalent experience, in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry.
• Expertise in in vitro assay development and optimisation.
• Hands‑on experience with cell and enzymatic plate‑based assays with practical knowledge of a wide range of assay technologies (e.g., BRET, time resolved FRET, luminescent Glo assays, fluorescence intensity/fluorescence polarisation assays, flow cytometry, high‑content imaging, cell viability/proliferation assays, second‑messenger and signalling pathway assays, cell binding & target engagement assays).
• Experience in small molecule high‑throughput screening, including dose‑response relationship analysis.
• Ability to work in a highly dynamic, fast‑paced cross‑functional environment.
• Proficiency in sterile techniques and cell culture.

Working Location & Compensation: This is a lab‑based role in our Milton Park site. Employees are expected to work on‑site most of the time, with occasional flexibility. At Recursion, we believe that every employee should be compensated fairly. Based on the skill and level of experience required for this role, the estimated current annual base range for this role is £41,000 to £52,000. You will also be eligible for an annual bonus and equity compensation, as well as a comprehensive benefits package.

The Values We Hope You Share

• We act boldly with integrity.
• We care deeply and engage directly.
• We learn actively and adapt rapidly.
• We move with urgency because patients are waiting.
• We take ownership and accountability.
• We are One Recursion.

More About Recursion

Recursion (NASDAQ: RXRX) is a clinical‑stage TechBio company decoding biology to radically improve lives. Recursion is advancing a portfolio of differentiated investigational medicines across its wholly owned and partnered pipeline in oncology, rare disease, neuroscience, immunology, and other therapeutic areas with significant unmet need. Enabling its mission is the Recursion OS, an AI‑native, end‑to‑end drug discovery and development platform integrating biology, chemistry, and clinical development into a unified intelligence system.