Senior Scientist / Associate Director, T Cell Immunology

Basecamp Research•Boston, MA

21d•Onsite

About The Position

Basecamp Research is seeking a highly capable, proactive T cell immunologist to join its Boston team and report to the Head of Innovation Science. The role owns the biology for in vivo cell therapy programs in oncology and autoimmunity, spanning primary human cell assays through IND-enabling studies. The successful candidate will set immunology strategy, design studies, conduct a substantial portion of the experimental work, and help build a small team. In collaboration with gene editing, protein engineering, and AI teams, the role will characterize novel editing enzymes in primary human T cells and establish potency and specificity criteria for candidate selection. The position also leads translation into in vivo models and supports pharmacology and safety work for IND-enabling programs, including study design and CRO oversight. The scientist will interpret and represent data in regulatory and partner interactions, contribute to regulatory filing sections, and mentor scientists as programs grow.

Requirements

PhD in immunology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or a related life-sciences field, with substantial industry experience in cell or gene therapy; typically 6+ years post-PhD for Senior Scientist or 9+ for Associate Director; alternatively, an MSc with equivalent hands-on experience.
Deep hands-on expertise in primary human T cell biology, including isolation, activation, expansion, transfection and transduction, and functional characterization.
Experience with gene editing in primary immune cells, such as nucleases, base or prime editors, transposons, recombinases/integrases, or equivalent, including measurement of editing outcomes.
Expertise in multiparameter flow cytometry using antibody panels and fluorescent reporters, including panel design and analysis.
Fluency with ddPCR, qPCR, NGS library preparation and QC, and interpretation of on/off-target analytics.
Experience designing and overseeing in vivo mouse studies, including CRO management.
Excellent communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Direct contribution to an IND or equivalent regulatory filing, with first-hand knowledge of the pharmacology and toxicology package.
NHP study design and oversight, including sampling strategy and interpretation of immunogenicity and biodistribution data.
Working knowledge of the regulatory landscape for genome-edited cell and gene therapies, including off-target assessment, insertional mutagenesis, and long-term follow-up expectations.

Responsibilities

Own T cell immunology strategy for oncology and autoimmunity programs and translate program goals into assay and study plans.
Lead translation into in vivo models, including humanized and syngeneic mouse studies, relevant disease models, and NHP studies for PK/PD, biodistribution, persistence, and immunogenicity, in partnership with CROs.
Drive pharmacology and safety components of IND-enabling work, including GLP and non-GLP toxicology study design and CRO oversight, biodistribution and insertional mutagenesis assessment, and authorship of pharmacology and toxicology sections of regulatory filings.
Represent data in pre-IND and agency interactions, partner meetings, and internal governance.
Design, run, and interpret in vitro potency and specificity assays in primary human T cells and cell lines, including activation, proliferation, antigen-specific cytotoxicity and co-culture killing, repeat stimulation and exhaustion, cytokine release, and phenotyping by multiparameter and spectral flow cytometry.
Characterize novel editing enzymes in primary human T cells and define potency and specificity criteria for candidate selection.
Mentor scientists and grow the team as programs scale.