ML Scientist, Nucleic Acid Design
San Francisco, CA$176k - $304kfull-timePosted 2mo ago
About the role
ML Scientist I/II focusing on nucleic acid design to develop models and design strategies for RNA and DNA sequence design, including UTR optimization, CDS optimization, and promoter/enhancer design, with applications across regulatory genomics, RNA biology, and sequence-to-function modeling within Lila's autonomous science platform.
Responsibilities
- Build ML models for RNA and DNA sequence design across regulatory and coding sequence contexts.
- Develop methods spanning de novo generation, sequence property prediction, diverse set selection for experimental validation, and active learning strategies.
- Deeply investigate the biological mechanisms of designed sequences and propose hypotheses about why they succeed or fail. Turn these insights into better models and future design principles.
- Partner with experimental scientists to propose informative assays, validation strategies, and learning loops.
- Collaborate with ML scientists and engineers across Lila to integrate nucleic acid design models into robust platforms and agent-driven frameworks.
- Stay current with research in nucleic acid biology, sequence design, and scientific ML, and share research findings externally through papers or blog posts.
Qualifications
- 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, JAX, or equivalent tools.
- Experience developing models for sequence design, sequence-function prediction, generative modeling, or active learning.
- Ability to reason about complex biological systems, scope ambiguous scientific problems, and formulate ML approaches that address difficult sequence-function challenges.
- Curiosity about nucleic acid biology, including RNA biology, regulatory genomics, or related sequence-to-function problems.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a preference for team-based science and the ability to build shared technical direction across ML, engineering, platform, and experimental teams.
Skills
Required:Machine Learning for sequence designFrameworks (PyTorch, JAX)Sequence design modelingBiological reasoningCommunication and collaboration
Benefits
- Full-time U.S. employees receive comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision; employer-paid life and disability insurance; flexible time off with generous company-wide holidays; paid parental leave; educational assistance; commuter benefits including bike share memberships; company-subsidized lunch program.
- International benefits tailored to region; USD salary ranges apply to U.S.-based positions; international salaries set to local market.
Last updated Sep 16, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About Lila Sciences
Pioneering Scientific Superintelligence
Pioneering Scientific Superintelligence to solve humankind’s greatest challenges.
Scientific SuperintelligenceAIAutonomous LabsLife SciencesChemical SciencesMaterials Sciences
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