Key Takeaways

  • 75% of U.S. employers use automated applicant tracking systems to screen resumes before a human reviews them (Harvard Business School & Accenture, 2021)
  • The most common ATS failures are missing keywords, incompatible formatting, and incorrect file types
  • ResumeGeni scores your resume across 8 parsing layers — modeled on the same steps enterprise ATS platforms like Workday, Greenhouse, and Taleo use to evaluate candidates

How ATS Resume Scoring Works

Applicant tracking systems parse your resume into structured data — extracting your name, contact info, work history, skills, and education — then score how well that data matches the job requirements. Many ATS rejections happen because the parser couldn't extract critical fields, not because the candidate wasn't qualified.

LayerWhat It ChecksWhy It Matters
Document extractionFile format, encoding, readabilityCorrupted or image-only PDFs fail immediately
Layout analysisTables, columns, headers, footersMulti-column layouts break field extraction
Section detectionExperience, education, skills headingsNon-standard headings cause sections to be missed
Field mappingName, email, phone, dates, titlesMissing contact info is a common cause of immediate rejection
Keyword matchingJob-specific terms, skills, certificationsKeyword overlap affects recruiter search visibility and ATS scoring
Chronology checkDate ordering, gap detectionReverse-chronological order is expected by most ATS
QuantificationMetrics, numbers, measurable outcomesQuantified achievements help human reviewers and some scoring models
Confidence scoringOverall parse quality and completenessLow-confidence parses get deprioritized in results

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ResumeGeni free?
Yes. ResumeGeni is currently in beta — ATS analysis, scoring, and initial improvement suggestions are free with no signup required. Full guidance and saved reports may require a free account.
What file formats are supported?
PDF, DOCX, DOC, TXT, RTF, ODT, and Apple Pages. PDF and DOCX are recommended for best ATS compatibility.
How is the ATS score calculated?
Your resume is processed through an 8-layer parsing pipeline that extracts structured data the same way enterprise ATS platforms do. The score reflects how completely and accurately your resume can be parsed, plus how well your content matches common ATS ranking criteria.
Can ATS read PDF resumes?
Yes, but not all PDFs are equal. Text-based PDFs parse well. Image-only PDFs (scanned documents) and PDFs with complex tables or multi-column layouts often fail ATS parsing. Our analyzer will flag these issues.
How do I improve my ATS score?
Focus on three areas: use a clean single-column format, include keywords from the job description naturally in your experience bullets, and ensure all sections (contact, experience, education, skills) use standard headings.

ATS Guides & Resources

Built by engineers with 12 years of experience building enterprise hiring technology at ZipRecruiter. Last updated .

Senior Scientist, Clinical Translational Medicine

Alpha9Oncology · Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Your Impact

Alpha-9 Oncology is seeking a Lead/Senior Scientist in Translational Medicine to advance our radioligand therapy (RLT) programs through innovative biomarker and translational strategies. You will design, implement, and interpret translational assays using patient samples to guide clinical decision-making across early-phase studies, while providing scientific oversight to external vendors executing sample testing and assay workflows. This is a hands-on role where your expertise will directly impact the development of first-in-class RLT candidates, shaping Alpha-9’s translational science capabilities in a rapidly growing clinical-stage biotech.

How You’ll Contribute

  • Lead biomarker strategy and translational assay development for Alpha-9’s radioligand therapy (RLT) programs in solid and hematologic malignancies.
  • Design, validate, and transfer tissue- and blood-based assays (e.g., multiplexed IHC, ligand-binding/ELISA, qPCR, flow cytometry, ctDNA) to support RLT clinical studies.
  • Work with patient samples and provide scientific oversight of external CROs and laboratory vendors conducting translational testing to generate PK/PD, target engagement, exposure–response, and proof-of-mechanism data for RLT candidates.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Clinical Development, Regulatory, and external partners to guide RLT study design, biomarker sampling strategy, and patient selection, incorporating imaging and radiopharmaceutical considerations.
  • Author translational sections of clinical protocols, investigator brochures, and regulatory filings, incorporating RLT-specific biomarker strategies and radiopharmaceutical endpoints.
  • Integrate advanced multiomic, spatial, and digital pathology approaches with radiation biology–related endpoints and dosimetry-informed analyses to drive actionable insights in early-phase RLT trials.

The Skills You Bring

  • Ph.D. in Oncology, Translational Medicine, Immunology, or related field with 5+ years of industry experience in biotech or pharma; 6+ years preferred.
  • Experience leading translational biomarker strategy and assay development for oncology clinical programs, with radioligand therapy (RLT) and/or radiopharmaceutical experience strongly preferred.
  • Hands-on expertise with tissue- and blood-based assays (e.g., multiplexed IHC, ELISA, qPCR, flow cytometry, ctDNA) and analyzing patient samples to generate PK/PD, target engagement, exposure–response, and proof-of-mechanism data.
  • Experience providing scientific oversight of external CROs or laboratory vendors supporting patient sample testing and assay execution.
  • Familiarity with RLT-specific translational considerations, including dosimetry principles, imaging-linked biomarkers, radiation biology endpoints, and radiopharmaceutical PK characteristics.
  • Experience authoring translational sections of clinical protocols and regulatory documents, with knowledge of ICH/GCP requirements for biomarker implementation.
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and ability to mentor junior scientists in a clinical-stage environment.

Pay Transparency Statement

Alpha-9 Oncology is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. Compensation for this position will align with the defined scope and responsibilities of the role and will take into account factors such as education, experience, and internal equity.

In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for an annual performance bonus, participation in our equity incentive plan, and a comprehensive benefits package.

The target salary range for this role
$138,000—$152,000 USD

Company Summary

Alpha-9 Oncology is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering radiopharmaceutical innovation for solid tumors. Our proprietary scaffolds, composed of optimized binders, linkers, chelators, and radioisotopes, enable targeted radiation delivery to cancer cells, minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue. Focusing on innovative targeting moieties, we develop molecules tailored for precise tumor targeting.

Our comprehensive platform integrates imaging and therapeutic studies to ensure effective radiation delivery and improved patient outcomes. With a robust pipeline entering clinical trials and strong support from leading healthcare investors, Alpha-9 is positioned for rapid growth and advancement in cancer therapy.


More about Alpha-9 Oncology

Alpha-9 Oncology is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, family status, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, provincial, or local laws where we operate.

We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees to ensure that everyone can perform their essential job functions in an inclusive environment. For inquiries regarding accommodations in the hiring process or for current employees, please contact a member from our Talent Acquisition team.

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