Scientist /Senior Scientist, Aging Biology

Location: South San Francisco, CA

Department: DEVELOPMENT

Who We Are:

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to deepen our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico aims to use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science, and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description: 

We are seeking a highly motivated and creative Scientist/Senior Scientist, Aging Biology to join our Translational Medicine team. This role is pivotal in elucidating the mechanism of action (MOA) of therapeutic targets within our aging biology pipeline. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining the molecular and cellular pathways that are fundamental to the program's biology. This role is critical for translating novel in vivo findings into a deep mechanistic understanding to guide its path toward clinical development. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in cell biology, MOA studies, and complex signaling pathways to this challenge.

Responsibilities:

• Independently design and lead experimental strategies to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action for aging targets and biomarkers, generating insights that guide program direction
• Conduct in vitro and ex vivo studies to investigate target biology in key aging-related processes, including stem cell function, tissue repair, and signaling or transcriptional regulation
• Compare acute and chronic pathway modulation in tissue injury and aging models to understand how stress responses and repair mechanisms evolve with age
• Investigate the molecular drivers of in vivo phenotypes in preclinical aging models to identify biomarkers and translatable mechanisms relevant to clinical development
• Collaborate with in vivo pharmacology and biomarker teams to select and leverage preclinical models that best probe target biology
• Partner with cross-functional groups (e.g., Biomarkers, Genomics, Protein Sciences) to integrate multi-omic datasets and build a comprehensive mechanistic framework
• Analyze, interpret, and present complex data and strategic recommendations to internal project teams and senior leadership
• Maintain rigorous experimental documentation and contribute to internal reports, publications, and regulatory submissions

Position Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, or a related field, with 2-5 years (for Scientist level) or 5+ years (for Senior Scientist level) of relevant industry or post-doctoral experience
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing complex experiments to elucidate mechanisms of action in age-related disease models
• Strong hands-on experience with a range of cellular and molecular biology techniques (e.g., primary cell culture, flow cytometry, single-cell RNAseq, qPCR, Western blot, ELISA, functional assays)
• Proven ability to think critically and solve complex biological problems
• Strong data analysis skills and proficiency with Prism or similar software
• Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail, with a proven ability to manage complex projects
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, with an ability to collaborate effectively in a cross-functional environment
• Flexible, able to respond quickly to shifting priorities and to multitask
• Must be willing to work onsite five days per week

Nice to Have:

• Working knowledge of formulation approaches for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC), intraperitoneal (IP), and oral
• Familiarity with in vivo models of metabolic or fibrotic disease
• Expertise in mesenchymal or hematopoietic stem cell biology, fibrosis, or tissue repair
• Experience with R or Python for data integration and visualization
• Background in growth factor signaling, extracellular matrix biology, or proteomics

The estimated base salary range for this role is $156,000 - $191,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.