Application Guide
How to Apply for Vice President, Translational Computational Biology
at Recursion
🏢 About Recursion
Recursion is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a unique approach to drug discovery by combining automated experimental biology with advanced computational techniques. Their platform generates massive biological datasets and applies machine learning to identify novel therapeutic opportunities, making them stand out in the biotech industry. Working here offers the chance to be at the intersection of cutting-edge computational biology and drug development in a data-rich environment.
About This Role
As Vice President of Translational Computational Biology, you'll lead a team bridging preclinical computational biology with clinical applications, directly impacting Recursion's drug development pipeline. This role involves developing strategies to translate biological data into clinical insights and overseeing projects that connect computational findings to therapeutic development. Your work will be crucial for advancing drug candidates from discovery toward clinical validation.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves strategic meetings with cross-functional teams to align computational biology efforts with pipeline priorities, reviewing progress on translational projects bridging preclinical data with clinical applications, and mentoring team members on complex analyses. You might spend time evaluating machine learning approaches for new datasets, preparing presentations for leadership on translational insights, and collaborating with clinical development colleagues on data interpretation for ongoing programs.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Recursion Is Looking For
- Has 10+ years of computational biology/bioinformatics experience in pharmaceutical/biotech, with a track record of translating computational findings into clinical applications
- Demonstrates proven leadership managing translational research teams, ideally with experience scaling computational biology teams in a fast-growing biotech environment
- Possesses deep expertise in applying machine learning to biological datasets (e.g., high-content imaging, genomics, proteomics) with publications or patents in this area
- Holds a PhD in computational biology/bioinformatics and understands both the computational challenges and biological/clinical implications of their work
📝 Tips for Applying to Recursion
Highlight specific examples where you've translated computational biology findings into clinical applications or drug development decisions
Demonstrate familiarity with Recursion's platform by referencing their approach to automated biology and large-scale data generation in your application materials
Quantify your leadership impact (e.g., team size managed, projects advanced to clinical stages, computational methods developed that became standard practice)
Showcase experience with machine learning applications on biological data types Recursion likely uses (high-content imaging, multi-omics, phenotypic screening data)
Tailor your resume to emphasize translational work - specifically how computational insights informed clinical development decisions or trial design
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your experience leading computational biology teams in translational research settings and how you've bridged preclinical and clinical development", 'Specific examples of applying machine learning to biological data that led to tangible drug discovery or development outcomes', 'Your strategic vision for how computational biology can accelerate translation at a company like Recursion with their unique data-rich platform', "Why Recursion's approach to combining automated biology with computation specifically appeals to you and aligns with your expertise"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Recursion's current pipeline and therapeutic areas of focus to understand where computational translation would be most impactful
- → Their platform publications and presentations to understand their data generation capabilities and computational approaches
- → Recent leadership team backgrounds and company culture to assess fit with their management style and priorities
- → Their partnerships and collaborations to understand how they work with external organizations in drug development
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on computational methods without connecting them to biological/clinical implications or drug development outcomes
- Presenting generic leadership experience without specific examples of managing translational computational biology teams in biotech/pharma
- Applying with a purely academic research background without demonstrating understanding of drug development timelines and constraints
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!