ML Scientist, Nucleic Acid Design

Lila Sciences
San Francisco
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 176,000 - 304,000 annuallyFunction: Research & Scientific (R&D)Education: phdSkills: ["Communication","Collaboration","Curiosity","ML judgment","Hypothesis generation"]

Build and evaluate machine-learning models for RNA and DNA sequence design, covering regulatory and coding contexts. Develop methods for de novo generation, sequence property prediction, diverse set selection, and active learning to drive experimental validation. Collaborate with wet-lab scientists and ML/engineering teams to create learning loops and integrate models into Lila’s autonomous science platform, improving how the system generates and learns from sequence-function data.

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Lila Sciences
Lila Sciences
1 month ago

ML Scientist, Nucleic Acid Design

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Job Summary

Build and evaluate machine-learning models for RNA and DNA sequence design, covering regulatory and coding contexts. Develop methods for de novo generation, sequence property prediction, diverse set selection, and active learning to drive experimental validation. Collaborate with wet-lab scientists and ML/engineering teams to create learning loops and integrate models into Lila’s autonomous science platform, improving how the system generates and learns from sequence-function data.
Location: San Francisco
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Research & Scientific (R&D)

Key Responsibilities

  • •Build ML models for RNA and DNA sequence design across regulatory and coding sequence contexts.
  • •Develop methods for de novo generation, sequence property prediction, diverse set selection for experimental validation, and active learning.
  • •Investigate biological mechanisms of designed sequences and translate insights into improved models and design principles.
  • •Partner with experimental scientists to propose assays, validation strategies, and learning loops.
  • •Collaborate with ML scientists and engineers to integrate nucleic acid design models into robust platforms and agent-driven frameworks.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 176,000 - 304,000 annually
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVisionLife InsuranceDisability InsuranceParental LeaveLearning BudgetMeal Allowance

Key Requirements

  • •PhD or equivalent experience in machine learning, computational biology, bioengineering, computer science, statistics, or a related quantitative field.
  • •Hands-on experience building, training, and evaluating ML models for DNA or RNA.
  • •Strong foundation in modern ML methods, with practical experience using frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX.
  • •Experience developing models for sequence design, sequence-function prediction, generative modeling, or active learning.
  • •Ability to reason about complex biological systems and communicate/collaborate effectively across ML, engineering, platform, and experimental teams.
Experience:Machine learningComputational biologyBioengineeringComputational science
Education:PhD / Doctorate
Skills:CommunicationCollaborationCuriosityML judgmentHypothesis generation
Languages:English
Tech Stack:PyTorchJAX

Company Brief

Lila Sciences
Develops AI-driven platforms to accelerate drug discovery and biological research by integrating machine learning with chemical and biological data to predict molecular properties, streamline candidate selection, and enable faster therapeutic development.
Industry: Biotech
Company Size: Small (11 to 50 employees)
Growth: Early Stage Startup
Funding: Seed
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