Head of Computational Biology

Light Horse Therapeutics is a San Diego-based small molecule drug discovery company, employing tools from chemical and computational biology, in conjunction with precision genome editing methods to identify functional/ligandable sites on high value oncology protein targets for therapeutic intervention. Light Horse Therapeutics was founded by leading academics Brian Liau (Harvard), Ben Cravatt (Scripps) and Nathanael Gray (Stanford) with initial financial backing from Versant Ventures and Mubadala Capital and from three strategic investors: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Taiho Ventures, and AbbVie Ventures.

We are seeking a highly motivated, innovative, and experienced leader to head our Computational Biology function. Reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer, this individual will play a central role in advancing Light Horse’s mission by shaping and executing the computational strategy supporting the discovery and development of first-in-class small molecule therapeutics.

Job Description

• Collaborate closely with Biology, Chemistry and Proteomics, to drive data analysis and become an active participant of drug discovery and translational research from target discovery to development.
• The candidate will be supported by and provide leadership to a team comprising in-house expertise and specialized external partners.
• Lead the design and analysis of CRISPR-based functional gene editing screens and multi-omics datasets such as DNA sequencing, Transcriptomics and Epigenomics
• Lead the analysis of genomic/genetic data for biomarker discovery
• Develop methods to interrogate large OMICs data sets to support target discovery and translational research
• Build and maintain computational pipelines for the integrative analysis and visualization of Genomics and Proteomics data
• Oversee data infrastructure and computational environment to ensure robust data management
• Stay current with scientific literature on targets/diseases of interest and emerging computational methodologies, fostering innovation across the company
• Communicate data analysis and scientific strategy effectively to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Foster Light Horse’s culture of scientific excellence
• Perform other duties and projects as needed in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Computer Science or Bioinformatics with 10 years of Industry experience and strong publication record
• Experience in Oncology and knowledge of cancer biology with experience in leveraging computational biology to support drug discovery and development
• Demonstrated expertise in the design and analysis of CRISPR and NGS data
• Familiar with tools and strategies for multi-omics integration.
• Experience in implementing, maintaining and running data analysis pipelines using HPC or cloud-based workflows.
• Strong publication record and history of presenting scientific work at conferences or in strategic meetings
• Proven record of fostering productive research collaborations and working cooperatively in a matrix environment
• The individual should be scientifically creative and driven by a willingness to embrace innovation in a fast-paced high energy environment and an eagerness to challenge and meet aggressive timelines

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience developing interactive data visualization and dashboards
• Experience working in collaboration with structural biology and computational chemistry
• Familiarity with machine learning and AI applications

We offer a competitive total compensation package, as well as working in a supportive team environment.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in San Diego, CA is $180,000 to $270,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc.