Principal Associate Scientist, Biology

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

4d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Principal Associate Scientist to join our innovative Research & Development (ReDev) team focused on advancing next-generation oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. The ideal candidate will bring extensive hands-on expertise in in vitro assay development, immune cell analysis, and molecular characterization, along with a strong passion for translational science. In this role, you will design and execute complex immune assays, perform high-quality multiparametric flow cytometry, and contribute to the evaluation of nucleic acid–based therapeutic platforms addressing significant unmet medical needs. This position is onsite and will be primarily located in Cambridge, MA.

Requirements

BS or MS in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related discipline with with 8+ (BS) or 5+ (MS) years of hands-on laboratory experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting.
Proven expertise in mammalian primary immune cell isolation, culture, and functional immune assays (e.g., T cell activation, proliferation, cytotoxicity).
Strong proficiency in flow cytometry, including high-parameter panel design, sample preparation, and data analysis; experience with cell sorting is highly desirable.
Skilled in cell culture, ELISA/MSD, cytokine profiling, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR.
Solid understanding of immune pathways, cell phenotyping, and immune assay readouts.
Demonstrated ability to independently execute experiments, troubleshoot technical issues, and manage timelines effectively.
Strong organizational skills, scientific rigor, and keen attention to detail.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset and ability to contribute across multidisciplinary project teams.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with automation platforms (e.g., liquid handlers, high-throughput systems) is a plus.
experience with cell sorting is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Design, optimize, and execute in vitro and ex vivo immune assays to assess immune modulation, including immune cell activation and suppression using primary and engineered immune cells.
Perform multiparametric flow cytometry (e.g., surface markers, intracellular cytokines, phospho-flow) using platforms such as Cytek Aurora or BD LSR/FACSAria; analyze data using FlowJo, OMIQ, or equivalent tools to assess immune subsets, activation states, and biomarker expression.
Develop and perform ELISA, MSD, cytokine profiling, western blot, and qRT-PCR to evaluate target engagement, gene expression, and knockdown efficiency.
Maintain, expand, and functionally characterize primary immune cells and established mammalian cell lines.
Analyze and interpret multi-parametric datasets (e.g., flow cytometry, cytokine panels, gene expression); summarize results in reports and present data to project teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
Collaborate closely with internal platform teams, contribute to method development, assay validation, and protocol optimization/transfer across functional groups.