Company Description

Variant Bio is a Seattle-based startup that is developing therapies to improve global health by studying the genes of people who are outliers for medically relevant traits. We recently completed our Series A raise and are entering a rapid growth phase. Variant Bio was started because we believe that human genetics has the power to transform drug development. To facilitate this, we have built proprietary genomics and phenotyping platforms that allow us to dramatically reduce the cost of genomic studies and identify genetically-validated targets for therapeutic development.

All of our studies are co-designed with local partners: community groups, academics, and hospitals around the world, and we built Variant Bio from the ground up with ethics at its foundation. We recognize the contribution of our partners through an industry leading benefit-sharing program that dedicates 4% of our revenue and equity value to support local healthcare, sustainable development, education, research, and capacity-building initiatives.

Job Description

We are looking for a Scientist who will significantly expand the scope and scale of our partnerships around the world. The ideal candidate is a creative thinker who can contribute to an early startup in project identification, design, execution, and data interpretation. Alignment with our ethical principles and effective communication in different intercultural settings is a must. The candidate is passionate about human adaptation, health, and genetics and is not intimidated by constant research and learning. The candidate will advise on, design, and lead projects covering South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Our current projects cover areas of positive adaptation to various environmental conditions and their health implications, as well as disease-focused research - kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Responsibilities

- Identify populations with unique genetic architectures and phenotypes in areas of unmet medical need. - Create scientific hypotheses and design genotyping and phenotyping campaigns. - Identify and set up collaborations around the world on human subjects studies, partnering with academic researchers, hospitals, biobanks, and partner communities. - Work closely with ethicists and cultural anthropologists to consult and co-design the studies together with partner communities. - Supervise local genotyping and phenotyping campaigns. - Help with result interpretation and designing functional validation of findings. - Contribute to/lead scientific publications. - Effectively communicate scientific results to local researchers, community members, and at scientific conferences.

Qualifications

- M.D. or Ph.D. in genetics, evolutionary biology, biological anthropology, molecular biology, epidemiology, or equivalent. - Conceptual understanding of the principles of genetic informed research and target discovery. - Experience designing and managing human subjects studies, preferably outside of North America and Europe. - Past experience in research on population genetics, statistical genetics, clinical genetics or a related field is an advantage. - Disease area or human adaptation expertise is an advantage. - Independent, creative, detail-orientated, and a critical thinker. - Compelled by the company’s mission of great science, a strong ethical stance, and benefit sharing.

Perks

- Opportunity to be part of an early-stage startup entering a rapid growth phase. - Competitive, industry leading salary, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability and life insurance. - 401(k) plan that includes an automatic 3% employer contribution. - Ability to work remotely until it is safe to return to the office.

Please email your resume and a cover letter highlighting your background and skills to [email protected] with the subject line “RE: Scientist-Partnerships.”