Scientist 1 (Contractor)

At Genentech, we are focused on helping patients through our groundbreaking research and development activities. In the Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology Department, we identify and characterize novel modulators of targets implicated in human diseases. We have an opening for an enthusiastic, rigorous, and nimble Scientist 1 (Contractor) to develop and support cellular and biochemical assays in our Metabolic Diseases and Neuroscience portfolios. Please see the job posting for more details about this opportunity.

Scientist 1 (Contract) — Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology (BCP) Department, Genentech

On-site — South San Francisco, California — Full-time — 1-year contract

To apply, please submit your resume and 3 references on Handshake.

Description

We have a 1-year contract opening for a motivated Scientist 1 to join the Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology (BCP) Department at Genentech's Research and Early Development (gRED) organization.

The successful candidate will support metabolic diseases and neuroscience drug discovery programs that are pursuing small molecule and peptide therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action. This is an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge science in drug discovery.

The individual will assist in the development, optimization, and execution of in vitro biochemical and cellular assays to screen and characterize small molecule and peptide modulators. The role includes hands-on assay work, use of automation, data analysis, documentation of results in laboratory notebooks and databases, and communication of results with scientists in the department. The candidate will work closely with BCP scientists and will have opportunities to interact with cross-functional project teams involving medicinal chemistry, biology, and structural biology.

Who You Are

• B.S. or M.S. in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biology, or a related field
• 1–4 years of laboratory experience in an academic or biotechnology setting
• Hands-on experience with basic laboratory techniques (pipetting, microplate handling, reagent preparation)
• Foundational knowledge of biochemical or cellular assay principles — understanding how compounds are tested against biological systems
• Demonstrated scientific curiosity and a strong motivation to learn new techniques and concepts
• Excellent teamwork, communication, and organizational skills

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every listed qualification, we'd still like to hear from you.

Additional Desirable Skills

• Experience with microplate-based assay formats (e.g., TR-FRET, luciferase reporters, luminescence, or fluorescence-based readouts)
• Experience with cell-based assays, including cell culture and cell viability measurements
• Exposure to laboratory automation or semi-automated liquid handling platforms
• Experience testing the effects of small molecules or other agents on biochemical or cellular systems
• Comfort with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., GraphPad Prism, Excel)
• Strong attention to consistency and reproducibility in routine assay execution

Why This Role

• Work at the forefront of novel small molecule and peptide therapeutics drug discovery
• Contribute to drug discovery programs with real translational impact in metabolic disease and neuroscience
• Gain experience in a department that is a leader in automation and assay technologies
• Interact with cross-functional project teams and broaden your scientific exposure