Principal Scientist, Advanced Ocular In Vitro Models

Sanofi • Cambridge, MA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Join the engine of Sanofi’s mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research. In R&D, you’ll drive breakthroughs that could turn the impossible into possible for millions. Are you ready to shape the future of ophthalmology research? The race is on to accelerate drug discovery and development to deliver transformative treatments for patients—and your leadership can make a decisive impact. Sanofi is seeking a Principal Scientist to provide scientific and strategic leadership in the development and application of advanced ocular in vitro models supporting our Ophthalmology portfolio. In this role, you will define and drive the vision for physiologically relevant disease models across retinal diseases, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other vision-related indications. You will apply deep domain expertise and independent scientific judgment to design, implement, and optimize next‑generation models that inform target discovery, translational biology, and therapeutic evaluation. As a Principal Scientist, you will lead complex research programs and matrixed project teams, influence portfolio- and program‑level strategy, and serve as a key scientific thought leader across multiple disciplines. You will proactively identify innovation opportunities, set technical and scientific standards, and mentor scientists while fostering a culture of scientific rigor and collaboration. This position offers a highly visible opportunity to shape Sanofi’s long‑term ophthalmology research strategy and contribute to the advancement of vision‑preserving therapies for patients worldwide. About Sanofi: We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline with 6+ years of postdoctoral and/or biopharmaceutical industry experience (or M.S. with 12+ years; B.S. with 15+ years)
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading ophthalmology discovery projects or research programs.
• Deep expertise in iPSC‑based 2D and 3D ocular differentiation for disease modeling and drug discovery.
• Hands‑on experience with automation, robotics, and scalable in vitro workflows.
• Strong background in assay development, advanced imaging, molecular biology, and data analysis.
• Track record of impactful scientific contributions (e.g., publications, patents, presentations).

Nice To Haves

• Experience with CRISPR‑based functional genomics and screening approaches.
• Proven success developing and applying complex 3D ocular models (organoids, MPS, organ‑on‑chip).
• Background in bioengineering, microfluidics, or systems biology.
• Experience writing IND‑enabling study reports.
• Expertise with computational and statistical tools (e.g., R, Python)

Responsibilities

• Scientific Leadership & Discovery Programs Lead ophthalmology discovery research programs and project teams, applying advanced in vitro ocular models to address key scientific questions.
• Serve as a scientific leader and subject matter expert in ocular disease modeling across multiple indications.
• Apply human‑relevant in vitro systems to support disease biology, target discovery and nomination, and therapeutic assessment.
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams to shape experimental strategy and interpret complex datasets.
• Communicate clear scientific recommendations through data‑driven presentations to inform project decisions.
• Platform Development, Automation & Scaling Design, build, and scale automated in vitro platforms to enable robust, reproducible drug discovery workflows.
• Lead implementation of robotics, automated liquid handling, high‑content imaging, and integrated data acquisition systems.
• Develop automated workflows for iPSC differentiation, 2D/3D culture, and multicellular model generation.
• Establish standards for quality control, reproducibility, and scalability across automated systems.
• Advanced Ocular Model Development Lead development and optimization of iPSC‑derived ocular cell types, including RPE, RGCs, PRs, microglia, and endothelial cells.
• Advance complex model systems such as co‑cultures, organoids, microphysiological systems, and organ‑on‑chip platforms.
• Enhance translational relevance through incorporation of disease‑relevant stressors, immune and neuroinflammatory components.
• Assay Development & Data Generation Develop and validate assays for retinal degeneration, retinal immunology, and neuroinflammation.
• Apply models to assess mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety across therapeutic modalities.
• Integrate molecular, imaging, and phenotypic readouts to generate high‑quality, decision‑enabling datasets.
• Collaboration & Mentorship Mentor and guide scientists across career stages; promote scientific rigor, innovation, and collaboration.
• Communicate findings through internal forums and external publications or scientific meetings.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and assess their applicability to ocular drug discovery.

Benefits

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.
• Join a global healthcare leader committed to chasing the miracles of science to improve lives.
• At Sanofi, you’ll find opportunities to grow your career, collaborate with world-class teams, and make a meaningful impact on patients worldwide.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree