What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Scientist, Functional Genomics position at ginkgobioworks?
Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in-house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.
About Ginkgo Datapoints: Ginkgo Datapoints, a business unit within Ginkgo Bioworks, is ushering in the coming era of AI-backed biotechnology breakthroughs. By leveraging Ginkgo's state-of-the-art automation and digital infrastructure, Datapoints addresses the growing demand for high-quality, large-scale biological datasets essential for training AI models in drug discovery and development.
Position Overview: We are seeking an experienced Functional Genomics Senior Scientist to join our wet-lab team within Ginkgo Datapoints. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mammalian cell culture and engineering with multiple years of industry experience in in-vitro drug discovery. This role requires a self-starter with a “can-do” attitude, superior project management skills, technical expertise, and the ability to get things done.
Responsibilities
- Develop and own standardized cell culture protocols for complex cellular models (e.g., primary cells, iPSC cell lines, 2D co-cultures)
- Develop and optimize biochemical and cellular assays with a high throughput screening mindset
- Execute chemical and genetic screens with a focus on CRISPR or siRNA transfection using multiple delivery methods and transcriptomics and phenotypic readouts
- Engage with multidisciplinary teams to design, execute, analyze, document experiments and communicate results in internal and external settings
- Analyze and interpret results that guide i) future experimental design, and ii) foster continuous improvements in cell culture workflows with a focus on scalability and reliability
- Establish detailed capability roadmap outlining future technical work and milestones, and partner with the product manager to ensure successful execution of the product roadmap.
- Engage with customers to scope projects, serve as a subject matter expert in areas such as complex cell culture, genetic perturbations, and assay development.
Requirements
- Degree in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Chemical Engineering or related fields with 4 years of hands-on, industry research experience in mammalian cell biology and biochemistry (PhD preferred, but not required).
- Track record of success implementing and instructing others on best practices in cell culture.
- Extensive, hands-on experience with advanced cellular models (i.e., primary or iPSC derived cells, with a focus in neuroscience, immunology, and cardiometabolic areas).
- Strong technical expertise in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology techniques including transfection, viral transduction, Western blotting, and CRISPR.
- Experience in biochemical and cellular assay development, especially as a member of a high throughput screening team.
- Ability to analyze and interpret experimental results with the goal to guide future experiments
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Why Join Ginkgo Datapoints
- Be part of a pioneering company at the cutting edge of AI/ML, automation, functional genomics, and drug discovery.
- Work with a talented and passionate team dedicated to conducting forward-looking innovative science that pushes technical boundaries.
- Opportunity to shape the future of Datapoints business with a wide-reach and exposure across the industry.
- Competitive compensation, generous equity in a public company, and robust benefits package.
The base salary range for this role is $115,000.00-$165,000.00. Actual pay within this range will depend on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer company stock awards, a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, 401(k) program with employer contribution, 8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.
Ginkgo has implemented a return to office policy effective October 1, 2025 with required in-office days 3x per week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Some teams may require to be onsite 4-5 days per week and this will be discussed as part of the interview process. This policy applies to all employees who live within 50 miles of Ginkgo’s offices in Boston, MA, Emeryville, CA and West Sacramento, CA.