What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Scientific Officer position at Prompt Diagnostics?
About Prompt Diagnostics
We are an early-stage startup operating in the LifeBridge Bioincubator in Baltimore, Maryland. Backed by CARB-X, NIH, and NSF funding, the team is building tests for infectious diseases, including drug-resistant gonorrhea and HIV viral load tests, to expand access to gold-standard diagnostics in clinics and low-resource settings worldwide.
About the Role
We're expanding our leadership team and hiring a Chief Scientific Officer to drive our scientific direction, lead our team of scientists and engineers, and oversee our federal grant portfolio.
This is an opportunity to step into senior leadership at a small, mission-driven diagnostics company with an active federal grant portfolio (NIH, SBIR/STTR, NSF). You'll work directly with the founding team, manage a capable group, and have real authority over scientific and operational decisions.
If you've been a senior scientist or research director ready to run something, or a startup science leader looking for a role with broader scope, this combines hands-on scientific leadership with the operational reach of a small company.
What You'll Own
- Team leadership. Direct management of our scientists, engineers, and operations staff. Setting culture, hiring, performance, retention. This is the most important part of the job.
- Scientific direction. Define the research roadmap, prioritize the technical agenda, represent the company externally to scientific collaborators and partners.
- Federal grant portfolio. Serve as PI or co-PI on future federal awards. Oversee proposals, progress reports, and renewals, working alongside team members on the writing. Own funder relationships going forward.
- Cross-functional partnership. Work closely with the founding team on strategy, operations, and the company's longer-term direction.
Must-Haves
- Terminal degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD) in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, biomedical engineering, or a closely related field.
- PI eligibility with track record. You've served as PI or co-PI on at least one federal award (NIH R-series, SBIR/STTR, NSF, BARDA, DoD, or equivalent) and can credibly hold PI status on federal grants.
- Deep domain expertise in molecular diagnostics. PCR/qPCR, microfluidics, point-of-care assay development, or adjacent areas — with publications to back it up.
- Demonstrated leadership of a scientific team. You've managed scientists and built a culture people want to stay in.
- Willingness to be local. Hybrid role based in Baltimore, MD; minimum 2–3 days/week onsite expected.
Nice-to-Haves
- Prior experience at a diagnostics startup, biotech, or commercial clinical lab.
- Familiarity with FDA pathways (510(k), De Novo, EUA) and/or CLIA/CAP environments.
- Business development or commercial partnership experience.
- Track record of mentoring scientists into senior roles.
What We Offer
- Senior leadership equity and competitive cash compensation calibrated to early stage, with meaningful upside.
- The autonomy to shape a small, high-leverage diagnostics company without the layers of a larger organization.
- A capable team and an established federal funding base to build on.