Chief Scientific Officer

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
• 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.