Origination Associate/ Senior Associate

Flagship Pioneering•Cambridge, MA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

At Flagship Pioneering, we don’t wait for the future—we build it. Our origination model is like a startup foundry for breakthrough science and technology: we dream up bold ideas, pressure-test them fast, and launch entirely new ventures from scratch. Think of it as startup creation in extreme mode—where the whiteboard is blank, the questions are audacious, and the upside is industry-shaping. We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative individual to join our interdisciplinary team. As an Origination Associate, you will contribute at the confluence of biology and technology —what matters is curiosity, creativity, and the drive to turn bold ideas into reality. You’re excited not just to invent products, but to help create entirely new companies from the ground up. The individual will ideate/research/refine novel venture hypotheses, develop the scientific roadmap and business case and, and co-lead new company origination from the very early stage. You will play a central role in company creation, driving every aspect of venture origination—from identifying and recruiting key scientific partners and advisors, to establishing foundational intellectual property, building and leading the early scientific team, and shaping the company's culture and operating principles. In this role, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders across the Flagship ecosystem, leveraging the breadth of Flagship's expertise and capabilities to accelerate company formation and growth. A successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with keen acumen on value creation in biotechnology and an entrepreneur comfortable with technical and business uncertainty.

Requirements

Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent experience) in a scientific field — particularly among biology, bioengineering, chemistry and related disciplines. We welcome diverse academic backgrounds that bring new ways of thinking
2+ years of experience in research, technology, startups, or other environments that demand both analytical rigor and creative problem-solving
Proven ability to rapidly become conversant in new areas of science and capable of engaging thought leaders at the deepest level of technological understanding
Strong communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling written narratives and presentations
Excellent analytical skills and ability to synthesize & communicate complex information rapidly and effectively
Proven ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving, entrepreneurial contexts; able to prioritize, pivot, and push forward without a playbook
Unmatched sense of urgency with willingness to go the extra mile to drive success
Passion for growth and development, with clear demonstration of openness to both giving and receiving feedback and track record of acting on feedback
Genuine passion for innovation, venture creation, and exploring uncharted technological spaces

Responsibilities

Explore white spaces : Identify and investigate emerging frontiers in biology and technology that could unlock entirely new markets and industries
Hypothesize & stress-test : Generate bold venture hypotheses, run rapid experiments (conceptual, computational, or prototype-driven), and rigorously pressure-test assumptions
Design venture blueprints : Help translate early-stage concepts into venture designs—including technical thesis, experimental planning, product architecture, and potential go-to-market approaches
Shape new companies : Contribute directly to the conception and launch of high-potential ventures, with a hands-on role in their earliest stages.
Collaborate across disciplines : Work closely with scientists, product thinkers and entrepreneurs to fuse technical insights with market potential
Synthesize insights : Translate complex information into clear, actionable insights for Flagship’s venture creation process
Push the frontier : Stay ahead of emerging scientific advances, bringing creativity and critical thinking to areas others overlook