Research Associate, ID Virology

Moderna • Cambridge, MA

21h • Onsite

About The Position

Moderna is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and adaptable candidate to join the Infectious Disease Research (IDR) Virology team. This role will support the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics across preclinical and clinical programs through the execution of virology and cell-based assays. The successful candidate will contribute to generating high-quality, decision-enabling data to support key program milestones, working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. This position requires strong experimental rigor, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and a commitment to delivering data with speed, integrity, and reproducibility. This position will work closely with scientists across research, translational, and clinical teams, as well as interface with internal and external collaborators, to advance multiple parallel programs.

Requirements

• B.S. in biology, or a related discipline with 0–2 years of relevant academic or industry experience
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and sterile technique is required
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality, integrity, and reproducibility
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational, record-keeping, and data management skills
• Effective communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and adapt to evolving scientific and program needs
• Candidates must already hold work authorization in US and be able to maintain that status without the need for future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with virology techniques such as virus propagation, TCID50, plaque assays, viral infectivity, and/or neutralization assays
• Familiarity with molecular and cellular biology techniques (e.g., PCR/qPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, western blotting, molecular cloning)
• Experience working in a high-throughput or matrixed research environment
• Exposure to assay development or optimization for mechanistic or quantitative readouts

Responsibilities

• Culture and maintain diverse mammalian cell lines and primary cells to support virology assays
• Execute virological assays, including virus neutralization, infectivity assays, and virus propagation, with high precision and reproducibility
• Perform assay quality control and ensure data integrity to support program decision-making
• Analyze, summarize, interpret, and clearly communicate experimental results to cross-functional teams
• Maintain accurate, well-organized electronic laboratory notebooks in accordance with internal standards
• Support reagent preparation, sample tracking, and inventory management to ensure efficient lab operations
• Contribute to assay development, optimization, and scaling
• Collaborate across teams to deliver high-quality data across multiple concurrent programs under aggressive timelines

Benefits

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level