Program Management Associate, AI & Biopharma (PhD)

MSQ VENTURES

Program Management Associate, AI & Cross-Border Biopharma

Research Triangle Park/Wilmington, NC · Full-time · Entry level (PhD) · Hybrid (remote/on-site)

About the opportunity

MSQ Ventures is a cross-border life sciences advisory firm in New York and Greater China. For more than 10 years we have worked with over 300 biopharma companies, investors, and partners on transactions between the U.S., Europe, China, and the rest of Asia. We are now incubating a stealth-stage venture that applies AI to cross-border biopharma dealmaking. We are hiring its first full-time Associate, based in Research Triangle Park or Wilmington, North Carolina.

Why now: global pharma is hunting for new assets, and Asia has become one of the fastest-growing sources of innovative drugs available to license. Deal teams in the U.S. and Europe are sourcing, evaluating, and licensing Asian assets at a pace the industry has not seen before. But these transactions cross languages, regulatory systems, time zones, and business cultures, and the information needed to move quickly is scattered. We are building AI tools to make cross-border dealmaking faster and better informed.

The role

This is a program management and AI role designed for a PhD who wants to move from academia into the business of global biopharma. You will be the person who keeps a small, senior team on track towards corporate goals to include managing timelines, agendas, meetings, product milestones, and day-to-day operations. You will work hands-on with AI, help build a new AI company from the ground up, and get a front-row view of how pharmaceutical assets are sourced and transacted between Asia and the West. As you gain experience, you will take on more responsibility and have opportunities to expand your career at the intersection of global pharma business, scientific, AI, and investing.

What you will doProgram management and operations

• Own program plans, timelines, and deliverables across the product build and client engagements.
• Run the team's operating rhythm: schedule meetings, set agendas, capture decisions and action items, and follow up until they are done.
• Keep the product development roadmap on schedule, track milestones, and flag risks early.
• Coordinate across time zones with colleagues, clients, and experts in the U.S. and Asia.
• Set up and maintain the company's core operating systems: project tools, document management, and internal processes.
• Work with company vendors and collaborators to ensure deliverables are met.

AI

• Work with our product and engineering team to define, prioritize, test, and track features from idea to release.
• Build and maintain structured datasets from market, deal, and company information.
• Test AI outputs for accuracy and usefulness, and document what needs to improve.
• Implement and use AI tools daily to improve how the team works, automating workflows, research, and reporting.

Cross-border biopharma market

• Track the Asia biopharma market: licensing deals, company pipelines, and investor activity.
• Research and summarize companies, assets, and comparable deals for the team.
• Prepare client materials, proposals, and meeting briefs, and coordinate with the MSQ transaction team on client engagements.

What you will get

• Direct mentorship from senior pharmaceutical executives, company founders, and cross-border dealmakers.
• A front-row seat on real cross-border biopharma transactions.
• A ground-floor seat at an AI company in stealth, shaping both the product and the company.
• Deep exposure to the U.S.–Asia biopharma corridor, one of the fastest-growing areas of global dealmaking.
• Career growth at the intersection of global pharma business, scientific, AI, and investing.

Who you areRequired

• PhD in a life science or related field (e.g., pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, neuroscience, biomedical engineering), completed or expected within the next [6] months. 0–2 years of postdoctoral experience.
• No pharmaceutical industry experience required.
• Exceptionally organized. You have run a lab, managed multiple projects or collaborations at once, and kept other people on schedule.
• A clear, concise writer who can explain complex science to non-scientists.
• A heavy, hands-on user of AI tools who is eager to learn how AI products are built.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast change in an early-stage company.

A plus but not required

• Working proficiency in Mandarin, Japanese, or another Asian language.
• Coursework, certificates, or club experience in biotech business, venture capital, tech transfer, or life sciences consulting.
• Experience with project management tools
• Quantitative skills: Excel, Python, R, or SQL.

Details

• Location: Research Triangle Park or Wilmington, NC based hybrid remote/onsite. Occasional travel to New York.
• Compensation: competitive base salary, stock options, and benefits.
• Work authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S., sponsorship available.

How to apply

Apply through LinkedIn with your CV and a short note (no more than 300 words) answering one question: Tell us about an AI tool you adopted or built that changed how you work; what did it replace, and what did it get wrong? or Tell us about a time you kept a complex project on track when it was going off the rails.

• MSQ Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.