Metaphore: Antibody Discovery and Molecular Biology Co-Op

Flagship Pioneering•Somerville, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is open exclusively to current Northeastern University Co-Op students. Work Period: January 2027 to June 2027. This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position with 5 days in office. Metaphore Biotechnologies, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company building the next generation of biological therapeutics. Inspired by nature, our mission is to transform patient lives by unlocking the power of biological therapeutics with a new mimic-discovery platform. Flagship Pioneering is a venture creation engine that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. We are seeking a highly motivated Co-op to support early-stage discovery efforts within our Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) program, a newly initiated therapeutic discovery program focused on achieving proof-of-concept (POC) by the end of the year. This position will provide hands-on experimental support for routine but mission-critical discovery and molecular biology activities that enable efficient advancement of the program. The role offers meaningful exposure to foundational discovery workflows within a fast-paced, research-focused environment, with opportunities to contribute across additional programs as bandwidth allows. This position is a unique joint effort between the Discovery and Molecular Biology teams, with opportunities to support cloning projects focused on antibody expression, contribute to high-throughput cloning pipelines, and gain exposure to laboratory automation.

Requirements

A collaborative and adaptable mindset with a positive attitude and a strong willingness to learn new skills.
Basic molecular biology and protein biochemistry skills.
Familiarity with standard wet-lab techniques.
Ability to follow established protocols accurately and reproducibly.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Willingness to work across multiple projects and teams in a dynamic environment.
Comfort contributing in a fast-paced, resource-conscious discovery setting.

Nice To Haves

Prior laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting.
Hands-on experience with phage display, ELISAs, or related assay formats (e.g. yeast or mammalian display).
Experience with cloning and routine molecular biology techniques such as Gibson or Golden Gate Assembly.
Basic understanding of protein or antibody biochemistry.
Experience maintaining clear and accurate experimental records.

Responsibilities

Executing routine, mission-critical discovery and molecular biology experiments that support target validation, hit identification, and early characterization within the PAD program.
Hands-on laboratory work using established protocols, with opportunities to contribute to: Molecular biology techniques supporting library preparation, cloning, and hit screening.
Antibody selection methodologies, including phage display–based biopanning on PAD-relevant targets.
ELISA-based screening and other binding and characterization assays.
Cloning projects supporting antibody expression and high-throughput cloning pipelines.
Laboratory automation workflows, as applicable.
Additional foundational assays required to advance early discovery milestones efficiently.
Generating high-quality experimental data that supports timely decision-making and progress toward POC.
Contributing to assay execution, cloning, and general laboratory needs for additional discovery programs as capacity allows.