Scientist, Cell Biology

We are a vibrant and intensely mission-driven team in San Francisco, comprising members from MIT, Harvard Medical School, Roche, ETH, and Dana-Farber.
We value speed and rigor, coupled with excitement, drive, and a strong work ethic. In an early-stage environment, we value people who can bring clarity to open-ended problems, take ownership of the next steps, and follow through with energy.

Capable Labs is a place for ambitious, high-integrity people who want to become dramatically better. You will be surrounded by people who care intensely about the work, get close feedback from the people making scientific and company-defining decisions, and have room to own increasingly important problems.

We believe excellent work should be met with meaningful reward, ownership, and trust. Responsibility is earned through contribution, not title alone: anyone who demonstrates the judgment, rigor, and follow-through to move important work forward can earn meaningful scope.

About the Role

You will develop and run cell-based assays that generate reliable GPCR pharmacology data to inform compound decisions. Working closely with biology, chemistry, and automation teammates, you will execute experiments, improve assay performance, troubleshoot unexpected results, and help keep the experimental loop moving.

Responsibilities

• Run, develop, and optimize cell-based GPCR assays, which may include calcium flux, cAMP, IP1/IP accumulation, beta-arrestin recruitment, receptor internalization, membrane potential, and related readouts.

• Maintain and work with transient and stable cell systems, helping optimize culture conditions, plating density, receptor expression, stimulation formats, time courses, dose-response designs, and assay windows.

• Use methods such as fluorescence, luminescence, HTRF/TR-FRET, BRET, ELISA, plate-reader assays, and imaging to evaluate compound activity and assay performance.

• Prepare appropriate controls, monitor assay quality, and analyze and interpret results with the team.

• Troubleshoot noisy curves, unusual plates, inconsistent biology, and unexpected compound results; help identify root causes and improve reproducibility.

• Collaborate with chemists and automation engineers to connect newly synthesized compounds to biological activity and plan follow-up experiments.

• Maintain clear experimental records and communicate results, issues, and next steps to the team.

Ideal Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with cell culture and cell-based assays through work in cell biology, pharmacology, molecular biology, chemical biology, neuroscience, bioengineering, screening, or a related area.

• A thoughtful, systematic approach to experimental controls, troubleshooting, reproducibility, and data interpretation.

• Experience with GPCR signaling assays such as calcium flux, cAMP, IP1/IP accumulation, beta-arrestin, or receptor trafficking is helpful but not required.

• Comfort working independently on experiments while seeking input and collaborating on more complex problems.

• Clear documentation and communication skills, with an interest in working closely with chemistry and automation teams.

Pay & Benefits

• Compensation and equity will depend on the skills, experience, and scope of impact you bring. We are open to a conversation based on the scope and impact you could bring.

• $500+ monthly wellness budget for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other tools that help you perform at your best.

• Healthcare: We offer a broad range of medical, dental, and vision coverage options, with Capable covering 100% of the base policy.

• You will also have access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans.

• Healthy vegetarian dinners with the team are provided daily.

• We support visa sponsorship where appropriate, including O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based pathways. Our team is already international, with members from Canada, Pakistan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, China, India, and the United States.

Application Process

Our process is fast, transparent, and personal. We care about getting to know the person behind the application.

• Initial application

• First phone screen

• Second phone screen

• In-person on site work trial in San Francisco: designed to give both sides a realistic sense of working together. Get to know the founding team!

Apply Today

Curious but not sure? Apply anyway. It takes 5 minutes, and you do not need to be actively job searching to start a conversation.

Some of the best people do not map perfectly to a job description. If this sounds like a place where you could do important work, we would like to hear from you.

And if someone exceptional comes to mind, send them our way here. We read every referral carefully, and if your referral joins Capable, we’ll send you a thank-you bonus.

Equal Opportunity

Capable is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Capable is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.