Project Scientist

A Bit About Us:

We are Arcadia Science. Arcadia is a science company founded and led by scientists. Our mission is to transform evolutionary innovations into real-world solutions by openly developing more efficient, replicable, and sustainable ways to leverage the biology of diverse organisms. We expect scientists at Arcadia to openly publish their research in written form as clearly and expediently as possible to accelerate feedback and progress.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a Project Scientist to join our Pilot teams. Our Pilot teams quickly identify and validate innovative approaches and biological topics that will accelerate our basic and translational research.

Project Scientists will run rapid pilot studies, the goal of which is to prototype computational/experimental tools or test predictions in focus areas to accelerate biological discovery. Pilots drive the adoption of new technology and research topics within Arcadia and may also be a source of IP, licensing, and spin-outs.

The Project Scientist will be expected to execute 4–5 pilots per year and should be able to identify key risks and optimize for “failing fast” so that they may pivot quickly between ambitious pursuits. At the end of each pilot, the Scientist will write up and publish their results. The ideal Project Scientist is independent, generative, rigorous, and can work as part of a highly collaborative and technically diverse team

Within the first month, the Project Scientist will:

• Work in coordination with current Project Scientists toward existing pilot goals
• Contribute to collaborative ideation around new pilots
• Familiarize themselves with internal platform capabilities

Within 3 months, the Project Scientist will:

• Be able to pitch and lead research pilots
• Establish go/no-go decision points for pilots
• Achieve baseline computational fluency required for effective collaborations (internal training is available)
• Be prepared to draft and publish pilots quickly

Within the first year, the Project Scientist will:

• Have completed three or more pilot cycles
• Have contributed positively to establishing a new line of inquiry or platform development at Arcadia
• Be eligible to pitch the expansion of a successful pilot effort

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in life sciences or related fields and at least one year of post-graduate work experience in academia or industry
• Full-time experience in an industry outside of academia is valued but not an absolute requirement
• Programming experience (Minimum: Python or R and bash)
• Basic knowledge of GitHub
• Strong writing and project management skills

Compensation:

Successful applicants can expect to be compensated between $130,000-$180,000 with benefits and a highly competitive equity offering, depending on experience level. The position will require the individual to be on-site at our Berkeley, California headquarters.

Application Process:

This is an open search, and candidates will be reviewed at least monthly, but our next review will be on February 21st, 2025. For all applicants, send a CV, a cover letter describing how they'd be a bar-raiser at Arcadia, and answers to the application questions found in the online portal. For questions about this role not covered in the job description and application, please email project-scientist@arcadiascience.com.

Arcadia Science is an equal-opportunity workplace; we welcome people from all backgrounds and communities. We provide competitive compensation and practical benefits to keep you happy and healthy so that you can do your best work. Please note that an offer of employment from Arcadia is contingent upon the successful clearance of a reference and background check.