Senior Scientist, Plant Viroids

Flagship Pioneering, Inc. • Raleigh, NC

143d

About The Position

Terrana Biosciences is seeking a highly motivated and driven researcher to contribute to developing products for sustainable agriculture. The position is for a full-time Senior Scientist specializing in Plant Viroids, requiring a candidate who is organized and comfortable working in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team within a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, record-keeping, and teamwork skills are critical for success in this role.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Virology, Plant Pathology, Plant Science, Molecular Biology, or a related field plus 5+ years of experience or M.S. plus 12+ years relevant industry/lab experience.
• Deep knowledge of viroid genome structure/function, replication, movement, and host interactions.
• Proficiency in molecular cloning, RNA biology techniques, and gene expression analysis in plants.
• Experience in RNA secondary structure modeling or prediction.
• Experience scaling vector production or running greenhouse/field infection studies.
• Experience in transitioning from product concept to successful commercialization.
• Clear, concise scientific writing and presentation skills.
• Comfort working in a startup or other fast-moving, resource-constrained environment.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with small RNA pathways, RNA interference (RNAi), or epigenetic regulation in plants.
• Experience using viroids as synthetic chassis or vectors for plant biotechnology.
• Prior patent filings or technology-transfer experience.

Responsibilities

• Using RNA secondary structure and computational predictions to design a suite of engineered plant viroids.
• Screening engineered viroids in plants.
• Delivering clear, data-driven recommendations that identify field-ready vectors for Terrana's product pipeline.
• Building and using end-to-end viroid protocols (e.g., cloning, inoculation, titering, phenotyping, expression analysis, and data capture) that can be run reproducibly.
• Handing off optimized vectors and supporting data packages for greenhouse and small-plot field trials, positioning them for regulatory engagement and commercialization.
• Serving as a key internal and external expert on plant viroids, shaping internal platform strategy and forging key collaborations.
• Coaching and mentoring research associates.
• Contributing to a dynamic, exciting culture that embraces teamwork and innovation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees