Ventures Associate Director

Schrödinger seeks a Ventures Associate Director - Therapeutics to join us in our mission to transform the discovery of therapeutics and materials!

Schrödinger has pioneered a physics-based software platform that enables discovery of high-quality, novel molecules for drug development and materials applications more rapidly and at lower cost compared to traditional methods. The software platform is used by biopharmaceutical and industrial companies, academic institutions, and government laboratories around the world. Our multidisciplinary drug discovery team also leverages the software platform to advance collaborative programs and its own pipeline of novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs.

As a member of our Therapeutics Group, you’ll leverage your deep research background in immunology, autoimmune biology, and inflammation, as well as your venture experience, to source, evaluate, and incubate the next generation of therapeutic hypotheses and transformative biotech opportunities.

In addition to your resume, please submit a cover letter that describes the following.

• Your PhD/Postdoc research focus in immunology/inflammation
• Your prior Venture Fellowship or venture diligence experience
• An emerging trend or target in immunology/inflammaging that you find compelling for venture creation (one to two paragraphs)

Who will love this job:

• A scientific investor who enjoys bridging the gap between breakthrough science and commercial venture creation
• A researcher with a successful track record of high-impact, peer-reviewed publications and deep expertise in immune pathways, inflammatory cascades, and/or mechanisms of inflammaging
• A skilled synthesizer of complex biological literature who can ask incisive questions and spot critical flaws or hidden potential in early-stage data
• A business strategist who understands early-stage biotech financing, valuation drivers, IP strategy, and drug development lifecycles
• An excellent written and verbal communicator who can translate complex scientific concepts into actionable insights for non-technical investors and stakeholders
• An entrepreneurial thinker who’s comfortable with ambiguity is excited to build novel therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs

What you’ll do:

• Perform rigorous, hypothesis-driven scientific diligence on the landscape of early-stage mechanisms and stealth startups in immunology, autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and age-related immune dysfunction
• Critically evaluate preclinical data packages, mechanism-of-action validity, therapeutic differentiation, target tractability, and intellectual property landscapes
• Engage with key opinion leaders, academic principal investigators, and clinical experts to validate scientific theses and therapeutic feasibility
• Track and map emerging paradigms across academic research institutions, tech transfer offices, and clinical advancements in immunology and inflammation
• Source high-quality deal flow by building relationships with founders, venture teams, and incubator ecosystems
• Partner with our internal therapeutic team, venture partners, and founders to prioritize and incubate new biotech concepts from ideation through seed stage financing
• Assist in crafting development plans, defining target product profiles, mapping the competitive landscape for the target-disease pair and regulatory pathways, and shaping early operational strategy for new co-created ventures
• Support ongoing portfolio companies with strategic analysis, board meeting preparation, and follow-on financing efforts

What you should have:

• PhD in Immunology, Autoimmune Disease, Inflammation, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or a closely related biomedical discipline, as well as relevant postdoctoral training
• At least one year of of work with a recognized venture fellowship program (e.g., Flagship, Arch, Third Rock, Atlas, Corp VC Fellowships, or incubator role) or direct experience as an analyst/associate at a life sciences venture fund or biotech company creation studio
• Practical, hands-on experience conducting scientific due diligence, market sizing, competitive landscape mapping, and deal memo preparation

  Pay and perks: Schrödinger understands it’s people that make a company great. Because of this, we’re prepared to offer a competitive salary, equity-based compensation, and a wide range of benefits that include healthcare (with dental and vision), a 401k, pre-tax commuter benefits, a flexible work schedule, and a parental leave program. We have regular catered meals in the office, a company culture that is relaxed but engaged, and over a month of paid vacation time.  Our Office Management team also plans a myriad of fun company-wide events. New York is home to our largest office, but we have teams all over the world. Schrödinger is honored to have been included in Crain's New York Best Places to Work, BuiltIn's NYC Best Place to Work, and Newsweek's list of America's 100 Most Loved Workplaces.    Estimated base salary range: $185,000 - $235,000. Actual compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, degrees held, market data, and business needs. If you have any questions regarding the compensation for this role, do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our Strategic Growth team.   Sound exciting? Apply today and join us!   As an equal opportunity employer, Schrödinger hires outstanding individuals into every position in the company. People who work with us have a high degree of engagement, a commitment to working effectively in teams, and a passion for the company's mission. We place the highest value on creating a safe environment where our employees can grow and contribute, and refuse to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious belief, sex, age, disability, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. To us, "diversity" isn't just a buzzword, but an important element of our core principles and key business practices. We believe that diverse companies innovate better and think more creatively than homogenous ones because they take into account a wide range of viewpoints. For us, greater diversity doesn't mean better headlines or public images - it means increased adaptability and profitability.