---
title: 'Scientist, Biochemistry at Element Biosciences'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-biochemistry-element-biosciences-san-diego-yj1x6avab5wn'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-14'
---

# Scientist, Biochemistry at Element Biosciences

- **Company:** Element Biosciences
- **Location:** San Diego, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-08-18
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-14
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/elementbiosciences/jobs/6139802004

## Job description

At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.

We are seeking an experienced Scientist, Biochemistry to join our Research and Development team. This role will play a key part in developing, optimizing, and supporting protein-based reagents, assays, and workflows across both our next-generation sequencing and multiomic product portfolios. The ideal candidate is a hands-on experimental scientist with deep expertise in protein biochemistry, assay development, and reagent characterization who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and collaborating across multiple disciplines.

This position will work closely with scientists and engineers across chemistry, molecular biology, instrument development, software, manufacturing, and product development to invent new technologies, improve existing products, and enable successful product commercialization. This role will report to our Associate Director, Biochemistry and will be an on-site San Diego based role.

If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

- Lead the development, optimization, and validation of protein-based assays supporting sequencing and multiomic workflows
- Design, execute, and interpret experiments focused on protein reagents, antibodies, enzymes, and other biologically derived reagents
- Develop and optimize reagent formulations to improve assay performance, stability, robustness, and manufacturability
- Design rigorous experiments using sound statistical principles to identify root causes and solve complex technical problems
- Establish analytical methods for protein characterization, qualification, and quality assessment
- Support technology transfer of assays and reagents from research into product development and manufacturing
- Generate detailed experimental documentation, technical reports, protocols, and design recommendations
- Drive troubleshooting efforts for challenging technical issues across multiple product development programs
- Evaluate emerging technologies and scientific literature to identify innovative solutions and new opportunities
- Collaborate cross-functionally with teams including chemistry, molecular biology, systems engineering, software, operations, manufacturing, quality, and product management
- Mentor junior scientists and contribute technical expertise across multiple R&D projects
- Present scientific findings to cross-functional teams and senior leadership

Education and Experience:

- Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Bioengineering, or related discipline with 2+ years of relevant industry experience
- Strong foundation in protein biochemistry and biochemical assay development
- Experience developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting complex biological assays
- Experience designing experiments and analyzing multidimensional datasets
- Excellent communication and technical documentation skills
- Experience working with recombinant proteins, antibodies, antibody conjugates, enzymes, or affinity reagents
- Hands-on experience with protein analytical techniques such as SDS-PAGE, western blotting, ELISA, UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence-based assays, HPLC/FPLC, SEC, DLS, SPR, BLI, or mass spectrometry
- Experience developing quantitative biochemical assays for research or commercial products
- Familiarity with DOE methodologies and statistical analysis software such as JMP or GraphPad Prism
- Experience supporting regulated product development, design controls, or technology transfer is highly desirable
- Experience developing reagents or assays for genomics, sequencing, spatial biology, or multiomic applications is a plus
- Ability to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Physical Requirements:

- Frequently moves laboratory materials and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds
- Regular laboratory work requiring the use of standard laboratory equipment, chemicals, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Must be able to safely perform laboratory procedures while following established safety protocols

Location:

- San Diego – on-site

Travel:

- Up to 5%, if any

Job Type:

- Full-time, Exempt

Base Compensation Pay Range:

- $116,000 - $149,000

In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, discretionary annual bonus, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off.

Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience.

We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.

## About Element Biosciences

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Element Biosciences develops affordable, high-quality DNA sequencing and multiomics platforms to democratize access to advanced biological analysis.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series E)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Three scientists (names not publicly listed in detail, but described as industry veterans)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Genomics, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Multiomics
- Target customers: Research laboratories (academic, government, and biopharma), clinical researchers, and diagnostic developers (B2B, primarily research and clinical segments)
- Mission or purpose statement: “To empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity, and open the world of biology to new possibilities.” [elementbiosciences.com/about](https://www.elementbiosciences.com/about)

## Products & Services
- **[AVITI™ System]**: A benchtop DNA sequencing system that delivers high-quality, affordable sequencing (the company announced a $200 genome). Uses proprietary Avidity™ chemistry.
- **[AVITI24™]**: A 5D multiomics system launched in April 2024 that provides subcellular spatial co-detection of RNA, protein, and morphology on a single integrated platform, with no library prep required. Powered by ABC Sequencing.
- **[VITARI™]**: A new platform/product line announced for scaling without the premium price (details emerging).
- **Reagent & Consumables**: Proprietary reagents with a price guarantee for the lifetime of the AVITI system.
- **Loop Genomics Acquisition**: Integrated long-read sequencing capabilities via the 2022 acquisition of Loop Genomics.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company). Total known funding exceeds $553M across multiple rounds.
- **Key Metric (Total Funding)**: $277M in Series D (led by Wellington Management), $276M in Series C, plus Series A & B from Foresite Capital and Venrock. An upsized Series E was announced in 2026 to accelerate global growth. [elementbiosciences.com/about](https://www.elementbiosciences.com/about)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Wellington Management, Foresite Capital, Venrock. Global distribution partners signed in 2023. Nearly 30 unique patents.
- **Growth Signals**:
    - Customer base spanning 40+ countries.
    - Technology used in 400+ publications.
    - Achieved ISO 13485 certification (June 2026), establishing a quality foundation for diagnostic applications.
    - Opened new headquarters at the Alexandria Tech Center in San Diego.
    - Upsized Series E financing in 2026 to expand genomic, multiomic, and clinical research solutions.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cost Disruption**: The company’s core differentiator is making high-quality sequencing affordable (e.g., the $200 genome) and accessible to labs of all sizes, challenging incumbents like Illumina.
- **Integrated Multiomics**: The AVITI24 platform is a first-of-its-kind 5D system that combines sequencing with spatial protein and RNA detection in a single workflow, eliminating the need for library prep.
- **Reagent Price Guarantee**: A lifetime reagent price guarantee on the AVITI system provides cost predictability for customers.
- **Founding Team & IP**: Founded by industry veterans with deep domain expertise, supported by a strong patent portfolio (30 patents).

## Strategic Focus
- **Global Commercial Expansion**: Scaling sales and support infrastructure across 40+ countries, with specific focus on APJ and EMEA regions (as seen in job postings for Field Applications Scientists and Territory Managers in those regions).
- **Clinical & Diagnostic Entry**: Leveraging ISO 13485 certification to move into regulated diagnostic applications.
- **Ecosystem Expansion**: Building out the AVITI24 multiomics platform and the VITARI scaling platform to capture a broader share of the multiomics and clinical research markets.
- **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring across R&D, Commercial, Operations, and Quality functions to support rapid growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Values**: The company emphasizes five core values: “We Disrupt the Norm,” “We Lead with Respect,” “We Overcome Challenges with Grit,” “We Own Our Success and Failures,” and “We Embrace Authenticity.” They describe a culture of accountability, transparency, and collaboration.
- **Compensation & Benefits**:
    - 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage.
    - Premier mental health care (Spring Health partnership).
    - $10,000 fertility benefit.
    - Paid parental leave.
    - 401(k) match and stock options.
    - Paid flexible time off (FTO) for both exempt and non-exempt employees.
    - Free access to local Alexandria EXOS gyms.
    - Pet insurance and identity theft protection.
- **Work Model**: Roles range from onsite (San Diego HQ) to fully remote (APJ, Canada, France). The company has a paid, 10-week onsite summer internship program with a 4.86/5 intern satisfaction rating.
- **Growth Opportunity**: Joining a fast-growing, well-funded private company at a pivotal moment of commercial scaling and product expansion, with a mission-driven focus on accelerating science.

## Sources
1. [elementbiosciences.com](https://www.elementbiosciences.com/)
2. [elementbiosciences.com/about](https://www.elementbiosciences.com/about)
3. [elementbiosciences.com/careers](https://www.elementbiosciences.com/careers)
4. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/elementbiosciences](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/elementbiosciences)
5. [elementbiosciences.com/careers/openings](https://www.elementbiosciences.com/careers/openings)

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