Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
Cardiff, UK | Relocation Support & Visa Sponsorship Available
Build the scientific direction of a next-generation AI-enabled biotech.
Antiverse is looking for a Chief Scientific Officer to help shape the next chapter of the company. This is a rare opportunity to join an AI-driven antibody discovery business at a pivotal stage of growth and determine not only which programmes move forward, but what the company becomes over the next decade.
We're looking for a scientific leader who can combine deep disease biology expertise with exceptional strategic judgement, helping to connect biology, technology, AI and therapeutics into a differentiated platform and pipeline.
About Antiverse
Antiverse is an AI-driven biotech company developing antibodies against some of the most difficult targets in medicine, including GPCRs and ion channels.
By combining machine learning, advanced cell engineering, antibody discovery and high-throughput biology, the company is building a platform designed to create therapeutics that were previously difficult or impossible to discover.
The next phase of growth is not simply about discovering more antibodies.
It's about building a world-class, disease-informed platform capable of repeatedly generating better therapeutic opportunities.
Current areas of focus include:
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
- MASH / metabolic disease
- Inflammatory diseases
- Complex biologics and antibody therapeutics
The Opportunity
You will work directly with the CEO, leadership team, board, investors and scientific teams to determine:
- Which disease areas Antiverse should prioritise
- Which targets deserve investment
- Which datasets should be generated
- Which biological systems should be built
- How experimental biology and AI should work together
- How the platform evolves over time
- How programmes are progressed from hypothesis to partner-ready assets
This role is as much about scientific judgement as it is scientific expertise.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Defining Antiverse's scientific strategy and long-term direction
- Building and evolving therapeutic area strategy
- Advancing programmes within IPF and MASH
- Leading target identification and prioritisation activities
- Developing disease-informed platform strategy
- Guiding translational biology and pharmacology efforts
- Defining in vitro and in vivo validation strategies
- Working closely with AI and machine learning teams to shape dataset generation
- Leading progression of antibody programmes from discovery through preclinical development
- Supporting partnering, licensing and external collaborations
- Acting as a key scientific representative for investors, pharmaceutical partners and advisors
- Building and mentoring a high-performing scientific organisation
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Significant scientific leadership experience within biotech or pharmaceutical drug discovery
- Deep expertise in IPF, MASH, fibrosis, metabolic disease, inflammation or closely related biology
- Strong biologics and/or antibody discovery background
- Experience progressing programmes through discovery and preclinical development
- Strong translational biology expertise
- Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams
- Track record of portfolio, target selection and programme prioritisation decisions
- Ability to communicate complex science to investors, boards and external partners
- Strategic mindset with the ability to connect science and commercial impact
Highly Desirable
- Previous CSO or senior executive scientific leadership experience
- GPCR biology expertise
- Ion channel biology expertise
- AI-enabled drug discovery experience
- TechBio experience
- Fundraising exposure
- Licensing and partnering experience
- Experience building platform companies rather than individual therapeutic programmes
Who Will Thrive Here?
You'll likely be a fit if you:
- Think beyond individual assets and programmes
- Enjoy connecting disease biology, technology and therapeutic strategy
- Are comfortable making difficult portfolio decisions
- Can operate at both scientific and executive level
- Are excited by ambiguity and company-building
- Want genuine influence over the future direction of a business
- Are motivated by building something rather than maintaining it
Package
- Competitive base salary
- Meaningful stock option package
- Private medical insurance
- Flexible working hours
- Relocation support
- Visa sponsorship available for exceptional candidates
- Modern office and laboratory facilities
- Equipment allowance
- 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
- Additional Summer Fridays
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch.