Principal Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology

Who We Are

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company dedicated to understanding the biology of human aging. Our mission is to leverage advanced technologies and model systems to uncover insights that will enable people to lead longer, healthier lives. Calico fosters an inspiring environment for medical breakthroughs through its innovative technology labs, commitment to curiosity-driven discovery, and robust drug-development pipeline in collaboration with academic and industry partners.

Position Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and accomplished Principal Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology to join our dynamic Drug Discovery Team. This pivotal role involves developing program-specific in vivo pharmacology strategies, establishing pharmacodynamics/efficacy models, and demonstrating preclinical in vivo pharmacology proof-of-concept (PoC). You will also define pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationships for our Translational Drug Discovery portfolio, with a primary focus on neurodegenerative and/or oncology-related disease indications. The ideal candidate will bring deep scientific expertise, strong technical skills, and proven leadership to manage complex projects and external collaborations effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific & Technical Leadership:

• Drive Preclinical Strategy: Act as a key scientific leader, defining and executing the preclinical in vivo pharmacology strategy for multiple drug discovery programs.
• Neurodegeneration and/or Tumor Biology Expertise: Apply specialized and deep expertise in disease pathology and pathogenesis to guide project direction.
• Model Development & Validation: Lead the development, characterization, and selection of relevant in vivo models for target validation, compound screening, and mechanism-of-action studies, including establishing rigorous endpoints and ensuring model fidelity.
• Study Design & Execution: Design sophisticated pharmacology and efficacy studies, overseeing their execution, and ensuring they are conducted to the highest scientific and ethical standards.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Perform meticulous data analysis, interpret key findings, and translate complex results into actionable insights that inform crucial project go/no-go decisions.

Project Management & External Partnerships:

• Primary Project Contact: Serve as the primary scientific contact for assigned project teams, ensuring seamless communication and alignment of in vivo efforts with overall program goals.
• CRO and External Partner Management: Strategically manage relationships with Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and external academic or industry partners, which includes:
  • Identifying and vetting appropriate partners.
  • Driving strategy, managing contracts, and overseeing study execution by external groups.
  • Ensuring the quality and timely delivery of external data.
• Key Decision Maker: Proactively communicate findings to leadership and project teams to inform and drive key project decisions (e.g., candidate selection, IND-enabling strategy).

Position Requirements

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Tumor Biology, or a related field, with 8+ years of postdoctoral experience, including 4-6 years in the biopharma industry.
• Proven track record of success in preclinical in vivo pharmacology, with a focus on neurodegenerative and/or oncology diseases.
• Expert-level understanding of neurodegenerative and/or oncology disease pathogenesis, animal model development, and standard pharmacological study designs (PK/PD, efficacy).
• Extensive experience selecting, managing, and collaborating with CROs and/or academic partners to execute in vivo studies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Must be able to clearly articulate complex scientific concepts, present data to diverse audiences, and write high-quality technical reports and regulatory documents.
• Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week.

Key skills/competency

• In Vivo Pharmacology
• Drug Discovery
• Neurodegeneration
• Oncology
• PK/PD Relationships
• Efficacy Models
• Preclinical Strategy
• CRO Management
• Data Analysis
• Scientific Leadership