Full-Time
Machine Learning Scientist
Biomolecule Design
Posted on 8/22/2025
Lila Sciences
201-500 employees
AI-powered scientific discovery for medicines
No salary listed
Cambridge, MA, USA
In Person
 AI & Machine Learning (1) |
|---|
- PhD or equivalent research experience in ML models for biological domains.
- Experience with training and using state-of-the-art biomolecule design models (AlphaFold, Evo2, ESM, etc).
- Experience designing and running experiments to improve model performance
- Strong coding skills and ML framework (PyTorch, JAX, etc) expertise.
- Are passionate about the impact of AI for science.
- Pursue a research agenda to improve state-of-the-art models for biomolecule (DNA, RNA, and proteins) design.
- Scientific reinforcement learning environments to improve model performance.
- Autonomous pipelines that integrate experimental feedback with in silico predictions.
- Publications in ML for biology at top research venues.
- Experience with building design-build-test loops (DBTL) for biomolecular design
- Experience with distributed systems or high-performance computing
- Experience with large language models or reinforcement learning.
Lila.ai uses artificial intelligence to speed up scientific discovery, targeting medicines and advanced materials. It ingests large scientific data, literature, and experimental results to let AI uncover patterns, propose hypotheses, and guide research plans. The company differentiates itself by tackling deep scientific problems at scale, combining AI with domain knowledge rather than offering generic tools. Its goal is to help humanity by creating new medicines and materials that address major biological and material challenges through data-driven science.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series A
Total Funding
$550M
Headquarters
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Founded
2024
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Raised $550M total, valuing at $1.3B with NVIDIA Ventures backing.
- Leased 244,000 SF at Alewife Park for AI Science Factories expansion.
- Opening platform to commercial customers in energy, semiconductors, drugs.
What critics are saying
- CuspAI secures Hyundai, Kemira, Meta partnerships, eroding Lila's lead.
- No peer-reviewed papers or patents validate thousands of discoveries.
- Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 4 captures pharma share via Eli Lilly deals.
What makes Lila Sciences unique
- Lila Sciences builds scientific superintelligence executing full scientific method autonomously.
- AI Science Factories generate proprietary data via robotics in life and materials sciences.
- Founded 2023 by Flagship Pioneering, outperforms models across scientific domains.
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Benefits
Flexible Work Hours
Company News
IQHQ partners with Lila Sciences for 244,000 SF lease at Alewife Park. Accelerating Leasing Activity Supported IQHQ's Recently Closed $310 Million Capital Raise Courtesy of IQHQ CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-IQHQ, Inc., a premier owner and developer of world-class life science districts, today announced that Lila Sciences, Inc. (Lila), an "AI for Science" company developing the world's first scientific superintelligence platform and fully autonomous laboratories for life and materials sciences, has signed a 244,000 square foot lease at IQHQ's Alewife Park district. The Lila lease and IQHQ's accelerating leasing momentum across its premium quality portfolio fueled IQHQ's recently closed $310 million capital raise. Alewife Park is intentionally designed as a large-scale campus experience with unmatched access to highway and rail transportation, first-class amenities, and state-of-the-art collaborative space on one of Cambridge's most coveted sites. Lila's Alewife Park footprint includes both move-in-ready space in addition to a full new construction laboratory building designed to support Lila's long-term growth needs. "Lila Sciences is redefining what's possible in scientific research, and we're proud to provide the foundation for their next phase of growth," said Tracy Murphy, President of IQHQ. "Alewife Park's scale, design, transportation access, and amenities uniquely position the campus to support transformative companies in one of the country's most dynamic life science ecosystems. We look forward to a long-term partnership with Lila Sciences and to delivering future-ready spaces across our high-quality portfolio." Founded in 2023, Lila Sciences combines AI and human scientific ingenuity to generate new knowledge at a scale, speed, and accuracy previously thought impossible. "We are pleased to work with IQHQ to secure the infrastructure that will support Lila's position at the forefront of Scientific Superintelligence," said Darrell Smith, Sr. Director of Real Estate and Facilities at Lila Sciences. "Alewife Park has a unique combination of qualities suited to Lila's growth needs in addition to the wellbeing of our employees, and we look forward to our long-term presence in West Cambridge." To support Lila and Alewife Park's growing occupancy, IQHQ is accelerating the build-out of best-in-class amenities and local community improvements at the district. Highlights include significant improvements at Jerry's Pond and the MBTA Alewife Station headhouse and plaza, a communal garden in partnership with Green Cambridge, an ecological center managed by Mass Audubon for education and community events, pedestrian and bike paths, the planting of over 650 new trees and campus amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center and diverse dining options. About IQHQ IQHQ is Giving Progress a Home(TM), empowering the life science community to thrive and succeed by creating and developing districts that inspire innovation and drive progress and growth. IQHQ's focus is to acquire, develop, and operate sustainable life science districts in the U.S. innovation hubs of San Francisco, San Diego, and Boston. To learn more, visit iqhqreit.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram. About Lila Sciences Lila Sciences is building the world's first scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous labs for life, chemistry, and materials science. With capabilities to apply AI to every aspect of the scientific method, scientists can bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at a pace and scale never experienced before. Learn more about our mission to build scientific superintelligence to solve humankind's greatest challenges at www.lila.ai.
Lila Sciences raises $350M to build scientific superintelligence platform. Since launching in March, the company has raised $550 million. Lila Sciences, a company developing an AI-enabled scientific superintelligence computer, closed a $350 million Series A round, bringing its total capital raise to $550 million in less than a year. The Series A closed in two parts, with the company garnering $235 million in September, co-led by Braidwell and Collective Global. With the announcement of the Series A closing, the company disclosed the support of NVentures (NVIDIA's venture capital arm), Analog Devices, IQT, Dauntless Ventures, Catalio Capital Management, Pennant Investors, a group of investors from the Peter Diamandis' Abundance Membership and other new stakeholders. Existing investors participated in the Series A, including Flagship Pioneering (where Lila originated), General Catalyst, Alumni Ventures, Modi Ventures, ARK Venture Fund, Altitude Life Science Ventures, Common Metal, Dara Holdings, March Capital, the Mathers Foundation, NGS Super, the State of Michigan Retirement System, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and other individual investors. Lila Sciences develops an AI-powered scientific superintelligence platform, paired with autonomous labs, that runs the entire scientific method. The company's supercomputer evaluates how various aspects of science, biology, microbiology and more can interact. The technology generates hypotheses, designs experiments and learns from results. The Massachusetts-based company will use the funds to build out its AI Science Factories "to produce more scientific tokens via more instruments under AI control than any company on earth and drive new scaling laws for scientific intelligence." Lila Sciences raised $200 million in seed funding in March of this year. At the time of the company's $235 million round in September, it stated that it would use the funds to expand its workforce and establish new hubs in San Francisco, Boston and London to house and scale its teams and AI Science Factories, "where AI can conduct experiments at scale."
Nvidia joins $115m round for AI startup Lila Sciences. Lila Sciences has secured US$115 million in funding from investors including Nvidia's venture arm, raising its valuation to over US$1.3 billion. Founded in 2023, the company develops AI models and automated labs for scientific research. This brings its total series A funding to US$350 million and overall capital raised to US$550 million. The company plans to use the funds to build "AI Science Factories," including a new automated lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and to open its platform to commercial customers. Lila said its platform has drawn interest from firms in energy, semiconductors, and drug development, focusing on generating proprietary scientific data through experiments rather than internet data. Food for thought. Lila's $1.3 billion-plus valuation rests on unproven traction and outside validation. * Lila claims "thousands of discoveries" across several sciences. It has not shared peer-reviewed publications, patents, or named commercial partnerships that would separate breakthroughs from raw experiments. * The company generates proprietary data in autonomous labs to offset scarce high-quality internet data for AI training. With no disclosed revenue or paying customers and no independent validation, the $1.3 billion-plus valuation leans on investor belief in future upside over present market traction. * Rivals such as CuspAI named Hyundai Motor Group, Kemira, and Meta as partners in its first year 1. The startup focuses on computational materials discovery. Lila has not named commercial partners despite interest from energy, semiconductor, and drug firms, which clouds near-term revenue or platform readiness. Enterprise software and cloud vendors can benefit from Lila opening its platform. * Lila is opening AI Science Factories through enterprise software. Systems integrators and vendors in laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or data infrastructure or cloud orchestration can help early users in energy. Semiconductor teams fit this profile too. * CuspAI and others building materials discovery tools have deals in semiconductors 1. The US Department of Energy published an AI strategy 2. Institutions look ready for tools that link AI, robotics, and lab workflows. * Investors in scientific software and lab automation can back firms that ride the autonomous lab shift. Targets include data standardization, experiment tracking, or AI model deployment that AI Science Factory operators will need regardless of which platform wins. How would you feel if you could no longer use Tech in Asia?
Lila Sciences has closed its Series A funding at $350 million, following an initial $235 million tranche. The latest $115 million was backed by NVentures, Analog Devices, and others. Including a $200 million seed round, Lila has raised $550 million total. The funds will scale its AI Science Factories and enhance AI technologies for scientific discovery. Lila will also begin accepting commercial partners in strategic scientific domains.
AI startup Lila Sciences raises $115 million with backing by Nvidia. AI startup Lila Sciences just propelled its valuation to over a billion dollars after its latest funding round. Lila Sciences told Reuters that it has raised $115 million in an extension funding round from investors including Nvidia's venture arm, lifting its valuation to more than $1.3 billion. The latest funding brings Lila's total Series A to $350 million and overall capital raised to $550 million, reflecting strong investor appetite for AI-driven scientific discovery. Lila Sciences is an artificial intelligence startup launched in 2023 by Flagship Pioneering with the ambitious goal of creating "scientific superintelligence." The company integrates advanced AI with autonomous lab systems and robotics to accelerate scientific discovery across fields like materials science, chemistry, and life sciences. At the core of its approach are AI Science Factories, highly automated research environments designed to independently generate hypotheses, design and execute experiments, and rapidly learn from the results. By building its own proprietary experimental data sets rather than relying solely on historical literature or databases, Lila aims to close the loop between digital reasoning and physical experimentation. The company's platform is being positioned to serve sectors such as green energy, drug development, carbon capture, and semiconductors. "What's so exciting about Lila is that we're going to use those resources very productively in a way that I feel benefits almost everyone on the planet," said co-founder and CEO Geoffrey von Maltzahn in an interview. "It will set in motion the scientific method in a new form," he said. The company claims its platform has already made thousands of discoveries across life sciences, chemistry and materials. "We aren't going to bring molecules into clinical trials ourselves, or scale up new energy breakthroughs," von Maltzahn said. "Those are going to be done by partners of Lila and startups that are on a Lila platform." This level of support underscores growing interest in AI-driven research infrastructure, particularly as industries seek faster, more scalable ways to discover new drugs, materials, and sustainable technologies. While still in its early stages, Lila's approach could enable other companies and startups to commercialize breakthroughs developed on its platform. However, much of the company's long-term success will depend on how effectively it can partner with researchers and industry players to apply its discoveries in real-world contexts. If successful, Lila could mark a significant turning point - not just in accelerating science, but in reshaping how science is done altogether. As the platform matures, the broader scientific and industrial impact will come into sharper focus, potentially defining a new era of machine-augmented discovery. As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply integrated into core scientific processes, Lila Sciences stands at the forefront of a broader shift in research methodology. Its model of combining computational intelligence with physical experimentation could dramatically reduce the trial-and-error cycles that traditionally slow scientific progress. By enabling machines to not only analyze data but also perform and refine experiments, Lila is helping to bridge the gap between digital simulation and real-world discovery. While the scale of its long-term impact remains to be seen, the company's approach signals a future where science is not just accelerated by AI, but actively shaped by it.