Preclinical Trials & In Vitro Bioactivity Lead

Nūmi is a bioproduction platform harnessing human mammary cells to produce key ingredients with proven health benefits across all stages of life. More specifically, it is the first European cultivated breast milk company aiming to produce human milk constituents to better match the ideal nutrition for babies. We are an early-stage, VC-backed biotech based in the heart of Paris (Hôpital Cochin, Paris 14th) and supported by world-class investors and scientific partners.

Nūmi's ingredients are not commodity products. Each one is designed to deliver a specific, evidence-backed functional benefit for infant nutrition and beyond. Proving that benefit rigorously through in vitro bioactivity assays and preclinical studies is what turns our ingredients from raw materials into science-backed nutritional actives.

We are looking for a Preclinical Trials & In Vitro Bioactivity Lead to own the design and delivery of Nūmi's bioactivity strategy. This is a hybrid scientific and program-management role. You will design the overall bioactivity portfolio, arbitrate what is developed in-house versus outsourced to CROs and academic partners, own the CRO management relationship, and lead the interpretation and synthesis of results into the regulatory dossier and into commercial narratives.

You will report into a matrix structure with our R&D team, our Reg & QC Implementation Lead and our external academic partners, and you will potentially grow a small in-house team over time.

• Define the in vitro bioactivity portfolio required to support Nūmi's ingredient claims : digestion models, gut epithelial barrier, immune cell modulation, gut microbiome / prebiotic activity, brain-relevant bioactivity, and other functional readouts as the pipeline evolves.
• Prioritise which assays are developed in-house versus outsourced to CROs, based on strategic importance, technical availability and speed.
• Define the preclinical animal study portfolio (rodent, piglet models) needed as regulatory support.

• Identify, qualify and manage relationships with contract research organisations (CROs) for outsourced in vitro and in vivo studies.
• Own scoping, RFP process, contract negotiation input, study design review, milestone tracking, data quality control and study interpretation with each CRO.
• Coordinate with academic partners (organoid platforms, microbiome specialists, infant nutrition academics) to complement our internal capabilities.

• Design and oversee execution of selected high-strategic-value in vitro assays run in-house.
• Coordinate with the R&D team on assay development, protocol qualification and data interpretation.

• Partner with the CMC Lead and Reg & QC Implementation Lead to translate bioactivity and preclinical data into defensible content for the EFSA Novel Food dossier (safety, efficacy, nutritional profile sections).
• Ensure GLP or equivalent standards are respected across the studies feeding the dossier.

• Represent Nūmi's science externally at conferences, in academic partnerships and in commercial discussions with strategic partners.
• Translate complex bioactivity data into decision-ready narratives for internal leadership, board and investors.

• PhD preferred, or MSc with significant equivalent experience, in cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, nutrition sciences, microbiome sciences or a related field, with 5 to 10 years of hands-on experience post-PhD or post-MSc.
• Deep expertise in in vitro bioactivity assay design and interpretation : cell-based assays, immune cell functional assays, microbiome or prebiotic characterisation.
• Proven experience managing external collaborations with CROs and/or academic partners on preclinical or in vitro bioactivity studies. This is a core requirement of the role, not a nice-to-have.
• Familiarity with preclinical animal study design (rodent, piglet models) sufficient to specify and supervise externally.
• Understanding of regulatory expectations for functional and safety data in Novel Food or nutrition-adjacent dossiers.

• Ability to arbitrate between speed, cost and scientific depth when scoping outsourced work.
• Comfortable operating with high autonomy in an early-stage environment.
• Willingness to grow a small in-house team over time.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, including scientific writing.

• Prior experience in specialised nutrition, nutraceuticals, infant nutrition, human milk science, HMOs or milk proteins bioactivity.
• Familiarity with Novel Food Regulation and its safety and efficacy expectations.
• Prior experience in a biotech drug discovery or nutrition R&D environment.

• Initial skills matching and review of your background.
• First interview with our cofounder and CTO Eugénie.
• A technical case study to assess your understanding of bioactivity portfolio design and CRO management.
• A last interview on-site to meet our cofounder and CEO Eden, part of the team and visit the labs.
• 2 to 3 reference calls.

Nūmi is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people from all walks of life.