Research Scientist II - Traverso Lab

The Broad Institute•Cambridge, MA

1d•$100,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is seeking a Research Scientist II to join the Laboratory for Translational Engineering (L4TE), led by Giovanni Traverso. This role will focus on stabilization, formulation, and translational development of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), with applications in neonatal and women’s health. Current funded programs include: Development of heat-stable Bifidobacterium infantis formulations for neonatal use in low-resource settings. Stabilization and vaginal delivery optimization of novel Lactobacillus crispatus strains to promote durable microbiome engraftment. The successful candidate will lead experimental strategies to engineer stress-resilient bacterial formulations capable of withstanding temperature, humidity, oxygen exposure, and mechanical stress –while maintaining biological function and manufacturability. This is a translational science position requiring strong biochemical and microbiological expertise, combined with formulation and materials insight.

Requirements

PhD plus 2+ years of relevant experience with demonstrated success designing complex experiments, independently interpreting data, and contributing significantly to publications and funding efforts.
PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field.
Demonstrated expertise in microbial culture and anaerobic systems.
Experience with lyophilization and/or spray-drying of biologics or microbial systems.
Strong foundation in biochemical mechanisms underlying cellular stress tolerance.
Experience designing iterative screening workflows and optimizing formulations.
Track record of peer-reviewed publications.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience stabilizing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, or related organisms.
Experience developing formulations that improve viability under high temperature or oxidative stress.
Background in peptide/protein stabilization or membrane biophysics.
Experience translating laboratory findings toward manufacturable products.
Interest in global health deployment and cold-chain–independent technologies.

Responsibilities

Microbial Stabilization & Extremophile-Inspired Formulation Design and execute iterative excipient screening programs to enhance bacterial viability during lyophilization, spray-drying, and storage.
Develop synthetic “extremophile” strategies to enable heat and stress tolerance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.
Evaluate protective roles of amino acids, carboxylic acids, sugars, antioxidants, and lipid matrices.
Investigate excipient–bacteria interactions at a mechanistic level (membrane integrity, osmotic balance, oxidative stress resistance).
Conduct accelerated stability testing (thermal and humidity stress) and interpret viability data rigorously.
Delivery System & Translational Development Develop scalable delivery formats including lyophilized powders, spray-dried materials, tablets/capsules, and oleogel-based systems.
Characterize physicochemical parameters, including moisture content, glass transition behavior, rheology, and dissolution kinetics.
Support preclinical colonization and performance studies in collaboration with in vivo teams.
Build reproducible SOPs for scale-up and CDMO transfer.
Contribute to manufacturing readiness and regulatory documentation.
Scientific Leadership & Data Integration Independently design experiments and refine research strategy based on data.
Analyze complex datasets and draw conclusions that guide formulation optimization.
Contribute significantly to peer-reviewed publications, patents, and grant reporting.
Present results internally and externally.
Mentor trainees and junior researchers.