VP Biology

About AQEMIA

AQEMIA is a next-gen pharmatech company generating one of the world's fastest-growing drug discovery pipeline.

Our mission is to design fast innovative drug candidates for dozens of critical diseases, such as immuno-oncology.

Our unique approach leverages quantum-inspired physics algorithms to power generative AI in designing novel drug candidates—without relying on experimental data.

We already delivered several drug discovery successes within our internal pipeline and through collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. Our most advanced programs are currently in vivo optimization.

Join Aqemia in a pivotal role where you will help shape our rapidly expanding portfolio of small molecule programs across diverse therapeutic areas, beginning with oncology and immuno-oncology. This is a unique chance to build and lead your team from the ground up, working closely with a multidisciplinary group to accelerate the discovery of clinical candidates.

We do not have an internal wetlab to keep agility, thus we work with leading Contract Research Organizations (CROs) for synthesis, in vitro assays, and in vivo assays.

Your mission

Reporting to the co founder and COO at AQEMIA, you have a rare opportunity to propel our growth by addressing two critical biological challenges:

1. Program selection: Build the biological rationale and strategy to help us select the most promising internal drug discovery programs.

2. Program progression: Build and refine flowcharts to accelerate them towards the clinic.

How you will achieve this

- Strategic and operational leadership: Set the direction and contribute directly to complex operations alongside our discovery program and technological platform teams.

- Team building: Recruit and lead a small highly skilled team of exceptional biology scientists.

What Makes You a Perfect Fit

We are looking for an objective-driven leader who:

- Challenges themselves and others while integrating expertise from internal teams.

- Has a passion for bringing new drugs to market with a proactive and can-do attitude.

- Utilizes a fact-based and rigorous approach.

- Values team success over individual achievements and excels in concise, efficient communication.

• Education: Ph.D. in Biology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, or a related discipline with over 10 years of industrial experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Experience: Proven track record of advancing multiple small molecule programs through various stages from target identification to clinical start.
• Expertise: Practical understanding of key pathways, their link to indications, and addressing unmet medical needs.
• Hands-on skills: Wet lab experience to effectively challenge and collaborate with CROs.
• Leadership: Experience managing scientific teams in discovery programs and working with CROs is a must have.
• Specialization: Experience in oncology and or immuno-oncology is mandatory.

• Dynamic Environment Experience: Proven track record in fast-paced, innovative, and techbio environments.
• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Extensive experience in multidisciplinary and international settings.
• Ability to navigate through uncertainty.

Why Join Us ?

At AQEMIA, we work for a mission: joining us means having your own impact on changing the way drugs are discovered, and helping to shape the direction of our fast-growing company and team.

Expanding Drug Discovery Pipeline : Focused on critical therapeutic areas like Oncology, CNS, Immuno-inflammation... with in vivo proof of concept/patent stage programs. Collaborations with top Pharma, including a $140M Sanofi deal.

Interdisciplinary Team : brilliant talent from tech and life sciences.

DeepTech Recognition: Part of French Tech 120 and France 2030.

Prime Location : Based in central Paris and London (King's Cross) with the possibility of 2 remote days per week.

International Environment : The work language is English - relocation support and French lessons granted if needed.

Strong Financial Backing : $100M raised from leading European and International investors