Data Acquisition Director

About the Role

We are an AI-driven startup pioneering the development of a universal foundation model for biology. Our mission is to revolutionise biological research and innovation through cutting-edge technology. 

In this pivotal role, you will establish and manage strategic partnerships with hospitals, academic centers, biobanks, and sequencing companies to secure access to diverse, high-quality biomedical datasets. Your expertise in biomedical data acquisition, generation and deep understanding of histology, proteomics (IHC, mIF), transcriptomics, and genomics will be instrumental in building a robust data pipeline to fuel AI-driven discoveries. You’ll work cross-functionally with Research, Product, Business Development, Legal, and Technical teams to align our data acquisition strategy with our model development goals and regulatory requirements.

What You Will Be Doing

Strategic Partnership Development

• Identify, establish, and manage relationships with hospitals, academic institutions, biobanks, and sequencing companies to secure high-value biomedical data.
• Negotiate and execute data-sharing agreements, ensuring both compliance and alignment with Bioptimus’ research goals.

Data Strategy Leadership

• Define and execute a comprehensive data acquisition roadmap, integrating multi-modal data types including histology, proteomics (IHC, mIF), transcriptomics, and genomics.
• Assess and prioritize data sources based on scientific value, accessibility, regulatory feasibility, and cost-effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the Research team to identify and fill critical data gaps for foundation model training.

Regulatory Compliance & Data Governance

• Ensure all data acquisition activities adhere to EU and US data regulations (GDPR, HIPAA) while navigating complex consent frameworks.
• Work with legal and ethics committees to secure approvals from institutional review boards (IRBs) and data access committees.
• Develop best practices for compliant and ethical biomedical data management.

Data Quality & Integration

• Establish quality control frameworks to validate, annotate, and standardize diverse biomedical datasets.
• Work closely with the Technical and Research teams to optimize data ingestion, storage, and processing pipelines.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to improve biomedical data accessibility and utility.

Budget & Resource Management

• Manage the data acquisition budget, ensuring cost-effective procurement of high-value datasets.
• Optimize resource allocation for data licensing, storage, and curation efforts.

Who We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will have a team-first attitude, thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment, and bring deep expertise in biomedical data acquisition along with strong leadership and communication skills.

Biomedical Data Expertise

• Extensive experience in biomedical data generation and acquisition
• Hands-on knowledge of histology, proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics, and emerging multi-omics technologies.
• Understanding of biomedical data pipelines, from generation to application in AI-driven research.

Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge

• Expertise in EU & US data protection regulations (GDPR, HIPAA) and ethical data-sharing practices.
• Experience navigating consent frameworks, IRB approvals, and data access policies.

Strategic Partnership & Business Acumen

• Proven ability to establish and manage partnerships with hospitals, academic institutions, sequencing companies, and biobanks.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of securing favorable data agreements.

Project & Budget Management

• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, delivering high-quality datasets within budget and timelines.
• Strong analytical skills to prioritize datasets based on scientific and business value.

Educational Background

• PhD or MD in Biology, Bioinformatics, Genomics, or a related field preferred.

Ways to Stand Out

• Industry Network
• Multi-Modal Expertise
• Tech-Savvy
• Exceptional Communication

What We Offer:

• Be part of a trailblazing team working at the intersection of AI, biotech, and biomedical research.
• Take on a high-impact leadership role, shaping the future of biomedical AI through strategic data partnerships.
• Work in a collaborative, innovation-driven environment with top researchers and industry experts.