Evolutionary Cell Biologist

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We are Arcadia Science, an evolutionary biology company founded and led by scientists. Our mission is to turn natural innovations into real-world solutions by developing systematic and quantitative approaches to leveraging biology for therapeutics R&D. We share our research as openly as possible to accelerate discovery and engage with the broader scientific community.

We are seeking an innovative and experienced Evolutionary Cell Biologist. Arcadia is studying biology with evolution as our guide. Our tools, methods, and frameworks probe the tree of life to identify innovations, novelties, and organisms that accelerate our basic and translational research.

In this role, the Evolutionary Cell Biologist will be part of a collaborative team generating valuable phenotypic and genotypic data to compare cellular features across organisms. Because we use evolution to select the best organism to study each biological question at Arcadia, scientists in this role will design experiments and develop protocols for diverse, often non-traditional organisms/cell types. These contributions will be instrumental in validating existing tools at Arcadia, testing novel hypotheses, identifying therapeutic assets, and driving the creation of new cellular approaches for testing biological function.

Top candidates are hands‑on, inventive scientists with deep experience in cell biology and a strong interest in using biological diversity as a tool to unlock novel therapeutics. They are energized by exploring new biology, skilled at troubleshooting, and thrive in collaborative, open research environments. Enthusiasm and participation in open science is also required as we routinely share our findings via our open‑source Pubs.

• Develop, adapt, and optimize experimental workflows to gather large‑scale, high‑dimensional phenotypic data using diverse cellular and organismal systems
• Identify maximally informative measures for comparing cellular features across organisms
• Conceptualize and prototype novel tools and methodologies to expand Arcadia’s capabilities in cell biology
• Troubleshoot experimental challenges independently and creatively
• Collaborate with cross‑disciplinary teams to validate tools, contribute to shared research goals, and accelerate broader scientific efforts
• Keep detailed experimental records and documentation (SOPs) for all workflows
• Synthesize ideas, data, and findings into fully open‑access publications and engage with the scientific community to maximize impact and garner feedback that improves the work

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field
• At least 1 year of full‑time relevant scientific experience post‑PhD
• Demonstrated expertise in cell‑ or organism‑based assay development, including design, execution, and optimization
• Proficiency with core cell biology tools, with particular focus on those that can gather large‑scale, high‑dimensional data (e.g., live cell imaging, spectroscopy, etc.)
• Comfort working with diverse cellular organisms and systems
• Experience with a range of molecular biology techniques, such as cloning, transformation, PCR, genetic manipulation, and protein detection
• Familiarity with data analysis using tools like Python or R is preferred
• Ability to align the team with organization‑wide goals and organize effective collaborations
• An excellent verbal and written science communicator for both general and technical audiences. We expect all scientists to actively draft and openly publish their results

Successful applicants can expect to be compensated between $130,000 - $180,000 with benefits and a highly competitive equity offering, depending on experience level. The position will require the individual to be on‑site at our Emeryville, California headquarters.

Interested applicants should send a resume and a one‑page cover letter that describes how the molecular biology techniques they are an expert in might advance our comparative evolutionary approach to research.

Arcadia Science is an equal opportunity workplace; we welcome people from all backgrounds and communities. We provide competitive compensation and practical benefits to keep you happy and healthy so that you can do your best work.

Please note that an offer of employment from Arcadia is contingent upon the successful clearance of a reference and background check.