Senior Scientist | Program Lead, small molecule cancer therapeutics

Senior Scientist | Program Lead, small molecule cancer therapeutics

Lime Therapeutics is a venture-backed biotech startup pioneering therapies that target lipid-metabolic pathways in cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our proprietary LipidSense™ platform enables the discovery of first-in-class targets, including our lead programs addressing tumor-selective lipid dysregulation. We are advancing novel small molecules toward IND-enabling studies, with a clear path to Series A financing and clinical development.

We are hiring a Senior Scientist to serve as the Program Lead for our small molecule cancer therapeutic development. This is a highly hands-on position with an expected 60:40 ratio of bench to desk work. You will devise experimental strategies, lead critical studies, manage team members, and work closely with the founding team to shape Lime’s scientific direction. This is ideal for a scientist with prior leadership experience who thrives on designing and driving programs end-to-end, from scientific rationale to execution, and is ready to make an immediate impact by leading a biology team toward decisive, milestone-driven progress. 

You will directly lead two key programs:

(1) First-in-class ferroptosis-inducing target in HCC and NSCLC: A drug development program against a validated target, where you will take the optimized lead compound forward to nominate a DC, while developing a biomarker strategy for patient selection. 

(2) First-in-class synthetic lethal target in KRAS-driven NSCLC: This program in the target nomination phase. You will figure out the Mechanism of Action (MoA) to validate the new target and generate the biological evidence needed to convince the broader scientific and medical community

What You’ll Do

• Serve as Program Lead: Drive the ferroptosis cancer drug development program and lead the target validation and MoA discovery for the synthetic-lethal target program
• Execute Hands-On Biology: Maintain a 60% bench / 40% desk presence, developing and standardizing new assays, while remaining closely involved with the experimental process
• Manage and Mentor: Directly manage three scientists, holding accountability for their performance, technical execution, and development
• Standardize Workflows: Bring industry standards to experimental deliverables so that assays can be seamlessly executed by other team members once established
• Function with high motivation: Operate in a high-intensity startup culture where work may extend beyond standard hours to evenings and weekends, and responsive communication is essential.

What We’re Looking For

• PhD in molecular biology, cancer biology, pharmacology, or related field, with at least 3-6 years of industry experience in small molecule drug development in oncology
• Track record of independent leadership in designing and delivering experimental programs
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently with minimal oversight, applying scientific judgement to evolving contexts
• Experience supervising and managing scientific staff, with high standards and timeline execution
• Demonstrated success in driving go/no-go decisions and linking experimental outcomes to program strategy
• High-agency mindset, adaptable to evolving priorities and high-accountability environments

Required Leadership and Technical Skills

• In vitro cell biology: Exceptional skills in driving cell-based SAR, MoA, and drug-combination studies
• Cell engineering: Expertise in cell engineering, specifically utilizing CRISPR, TET-inducible overexpression, and CRISPRa/i workflows
• Molecular biology proficiency, including cloning, Western blot, qRT-PCR, and other techniques
• Efficient experimental design and assay execution, with ability to troubleshoot rapidly
• Clear and confident scientific communication with accurate record keeping
• Ability to perform data analysis, and present reports to internal and external parties
• Experience managing relationships with stakeholders including consultants, advisors, and CROs

Why Join Lime

• Real Impact: Your work will shape first-in-class therapeutics for patients with high unmet need
• Founder Access: Work directly with company leadership and world-class advisors
• Growth Path: Build and lead scientific teams as Lime expands
• Mission-Driven Culture: High-ownership, strategic focus, and fast execution

Salary and Benefits 

The salary range for this fully in-person full-time position is $120,000-$150,000 commensurate with skills and experience. You will be offered stock options with significant potential upside. Lime is committed to the well-being of our team members and offers a comprehensive benefits package. Lime is headquartered at the Ford Center Incubator, a vibrant home for early-stage life science companies, located at The Rockefeller University campus in New York City’s Upper East Side. We are actively interviewing and looking to fill this role as soon as possible. To apply, please submit your application here: https://bit.ly/workatlimetx