Scientist II, mRNA Technologies

Repertoire Immune Medicines•Waltham, MA

2d•$120,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Repertoire Immune Medicines is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Scientist II to join its autoimmune tolerance induction team. The role will help advance the company’s immune tolerance modality across multiple indications by leading the design, development, and optimization of mRNA constructs that deliver antigens, cell-modifying payloads, and immune modulators. Areas for innovation include optimizing protein expression, immune epitope presentation, and silencing innate immune signaling. As part of the Integrated Therapeutics and Development team (ITED), the Scientist II will work closely with lipid nanoparticle technology, in vivo pharmacology, antigen discovery and validation, and computational sciences to advance drug candidates from concept through preclinical and toward clinical development. The position includes driving projects from discovery through preclinical and IND-enabling studies, establishing mRNA production capability, and supporting research across the tolerance team and Repertoire. The successful candidate will bring experience in therapeutic mRNA design, production, purification, and molecular and functional characterization, including UTR and ORF design. The role also involves analytical assessment of mRNA drug substance and mRNA-LNP drug product, and may include developing high-throughput in vivo assays to assess payloads and delivery vehicles. The candidate should be scientifically curious and rigorous, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with evolving priorities.

Requirements

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field.
2–6+ years of biotech/pharma experience post-Ph.D., or equivalent industry experience for candidates with an M.S. or B.S.
Subject matter expertise in the design, production, and analytical characterization of mRNA for gene or antigen therapy.
Ability to identify, troubleshoot, and solve issues associated with complex materials.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Collaborative, accountable, and effective communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with RNA-driven innate immune activation.
Experience with in vitro cell culture and flow cytometry.
Hands-on experience producing and purifying IVT-produced mRNA.
Experience with lipid nanoparticle formulation and/or characterization of mRNA-LNP drug products, including process scale-up.
Experience with IP-RP HPLC for analytical characterization.

Responsibilities

Design and optimize molecular components of mRNA for antigen expression and presentation in immune cells and other tissue targets for systemic protein delivery.
Collaborate with preclinical biology and disease-area teams to characterize construct designs and payload functional activity across in vitro and in vivo models.
Establish, optimize, and innovate scalable in vitro transcription (IVT) production and purification processes for discovery and therapeutic mRNA applications.
Contribute to development of analytical characterization methods for mRNA molecules and mRNA-LNP drug product, with consideration for technology transfer to a CRO/CDMO.
Ensure supply of in vivo-grade mRNA and mRNA-LNP product to the tolerance team and across Repertoire.
Design and maintain the external supply chain for research-grade plasmids used in IVT production of mRNA.
Cross-train with the LNP team to support LNP production and characterization, including particle size and surface charge measurements and endotoxin testing.
Collaborate with LNP and analytical teams to assess mRNA quality after formulation, including mRNA integrity and characterization or troubleshooting of mRNA-lipid adduct formation.
Analyze, summarize, and communicate findings to team leadership and project teams.
Document work in an electronic lab notebook and author project summaries as needed.
Provide scientific, project, and laboratory leadership to junior scientific staff, and lead by example on laboratory safety.