Scientist, In Vitro Biology

Moderna • Cambridge, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

ModernaTX, Inc. is seeking a Scientist, In Vitro Biology for its Cambridge, Massachusetts location. This role involves providing technical oversight and troubleshooting for various laboratory equipment, with a particular focus on high-content confocal microscopy. The successful candidate will be responsible for proposing, establishing, and implementing a wide range of optical microscopy and imaging techniques to investigate the in vitro pharmacology of nucleic acid and LNP delivery systems. This includes exploring molecular biology and cell engineering methods to create relevant in vitro model systems. The Scientist will also manage and oversee the technical work of co-ops or junior staff, offering scientific guidance and training. Key responsibilities include developing quantitative methods to measure specific biomolecules in cultured and primary cells and tissues, and to study mRNA endosomal escape, subcellular localization, half-life, and protein translation. The role requires independent conceptualization, generation, and assembly of in vitro cell-based data packages to support Moderna’s nucleic acid and LNP delivery platforms and therapeutic pipeline. The individual will identify, introduce, and validate new technical capabilities from scientific literature, and explore novel quantitative 3-dimensional and single-cell image analysis techniques. Fostering research collaborations across internal and external ecosystems for infectious disease, oncology, immune disorders, and rare disease indications is also a critical aspect. Effective communication of scientific concepts, experimental approaches, and data analysis to various research and development stakeholders is essential. Additionally, the Scientist will design immune activation assays, develop and validate new tools for quantitatively measuring intact LNP delivery (with emphasis on nebulization), and serve as a technical and scientific subject matter expert for confocal imaging and cell-based assays, providing supervision and training to new employees and non-subject matter experts.

Requirements

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Biotechnology, Biology, Biochemistry, or related field and 6 years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience as a Principal Research Associate, Senior Research Associate, Biomanufacturing Specialist, Research Assistant, or related position within the Biotechnology industry.
• Must have 6 years of experience with: Confocal Microscopy.
• Must have 6 years of experience with: Conjugation of nucleic acids and antibodies.
• Must have 6 years of experience with: Quantitative Image Analysis Pipelines (HALO, FIJI, Opera/Harmony Revvity).
• Must have 6 years of experience with: Immunofluorescence/IHC and Fluorescence in situ hybridization.
• Must have 4 years of experience with: Practical experience with cell biology including cell culture, cell line development, cell panting and advanced optical microscopy techniques including super-resolution, high-content, live-cell, 3-D and single-cell imaging.
• Must have 4 years of experience with: High-throughput in vitro cell-based imaging assay development and liquid-handler automation.
• Must have 4 years of experience with: In vitro pharmacology and mechanism-of-action characterization of LNP and mRNA, and Nebulized LNP delivery.
• Must have 4 years of experience with: RNA Endosomal Escape quantification via single molecule imaging, galectin recruitment and qPCR.
• Must have 4 years of experience with: Characterizing mechanism-of-action for biological drug products.
• Must have 4 years of experience with: Managing and overseeing the technical work of co-ops/interns and junior staff by providing scientific guidance and training.

Responsibilities

• Manage technical oversight and troubleshooting of various types of laboratory equipment, particularly for high-content confocal microscopy.
• Propose, establish and implement a wide range of optical microscopy and imaging techniques to investigate the in vitro pharmacology of nucleic acid and LNP delivery systems.
• Investigate a variety of molecular biology and cell engineering methods to generate relevant in vitro model systems to interrogate nucleic acid and LNP delivery systems.
• Manage and oversee the technical work of co-ops or junior staff by providing scientific guidance and training.
• Develop quantitative methods to measure specific biomolecules of interest within cultured and primary cells, and tissues, as well as methods to study mRNA endosomal escape, and mRNA and protein subcellular localization, mRNA half-life, and protein translation.
• Independently conceptualize, generate and assemble in vitro cell-based data packages to support the advancement of Moderna’s nucleic acid and LNP delivery platforms and therapeutic pipeline.
• Identify, introduce, and validate new technical capabilities from regular review of the primary scientific literature for relevant biological applications.
• Identify and explore novel, quantitative 3-dimensional and single-cell image analyses techniques for nucleic acid, protein and lipid nanoparticle visualization.
• Identify, initiate and foster research collaborations with nucleic acid delivery systems for infectious disease, oncology, immune disorders and rare disease indications, across the internal and external ecosystem to enhance the understanding of Moderna’s technology platform.
• Effectively communicate scientific concepts, experimental approaches, and data analysis to multiple key research and development stakeholders across the company.
• Design and leverage immune activation assays to characterize nucleic acid cargo and LNP delivery systems.
• Develop and validate new tools to quantitatively measure intact LNP delivery with various routes of administration (with specific emphasis on nebulization).
• Serve as a technical and scientific subject matter expert for confocal imaging and cell-based assays with respect to nucleic acid delivery across cross-functional teams, and provide supervision and training to new employees and non-subject matter experts on developed methods when necessary.

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
• The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees