Scientist, Infectious Disease Research

Company: Moderna Theraputics
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: June 7, 2021

Job Description:

The Role:

This role is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, talented and motivated Scientist to be part of the vaccine design and selection team in Moderna Infectious Disease Research. The Scientist will be responsible for working on discovery and development of novel mRNA vaccine candidates and support their advancement to clinical studies. The Scientist will apply expertise in the fields of biochemistry, biophysics and protein structure to design, purify and characterize novel protein and mRNA antigens against infectious disease targets. The Scientist will collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as computational sciences, immunology and virology, evaluate their vaccine designs in the lab with colleagues and present their results internally and externally. Located in Cambridge, MA, the Scientist should be outstanding in their expertise, have a proven track record of vaccine-related research and development, collaborative team members and an excellent communicator.

Here's What You'll Do:

• Design viral and bacterial protein antigens that are stable, high-yielding and conformationally native.

• Express and purify recombinant proteins for use in research assays and clinical assays.

• Develop medium- to high- throughput recombinant protein expression screening and antigenic characterization using biochemical and biophysical approaches.

• Design mRNA vaccines, validating them in vitro and in vivo.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams across the Moderna ecosystem, collaborators and CROs to progress candidates from discovery through IND-enabling studies.

• Interpret, troubleshoot, and report complex data. Propose novel vaccine targets aligned with Moderna's scientific strategy and capabilities.

• Maintain expertise in the field of vaccinology, infectious disease, immunotherapy and therapeutic developments thoroughly keeping up to date with literature, attend relevant meetings, and liaise with external experts in the field.

• Manage multiple experiments, projects and interactions with supporting functions.

• Provide scientific and technical advice to multidisciplinary project teams.

• Prepare documents and present strategy, results, project updates, and summaries.

Here's What You'll Bring to the Table:

• Exceptional PhD with expertise in protein expression, purification and characterization.

• Knowledge of vaccinology, virology and immunology is required. Knowledge and experience in mRNA vaccinology are a plus. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in biochemistry and structure-based vaccine design.

• Expertise and knowledge of cellular and molecular biology (e.g. cell culture, transfections, transductions, protein chromatography, western blotting, immunoprecipitation, ELISA and flow cytometry) is necessary. Expertise in cell line development is advantageous.

• Experience in protein production and characterization is required. Experience with in vitro assays such as serum ELISA and neutralization assays and experience in design and/or functional evaluation of antibodies is desirable.

• Proven track record of high impact publications and presentations in the field of protein production, antigen design or immunology.

• The ability to work in a cross-functional work environment is critical; strong leadership skills and independence are expected.

• Excellent written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills; ability to influence and collaborate in a team environment.

• Candidate will be curious in exploring new paths for vaccine and drug discovery, bold in proposing creative experimental designs and ideas. Will work collaboratively with multifunctional teams and will be relentless in pursuing successful outcomes.

Here's What We'll Bring to the Table:

• On-site subsidized cafeteria or catered lunches
• Company-provided iPhone
• Free parking, monthly subway pass or a subsidized commuter rail pass
• Free annual corporate membership to Bluebikes
• Highly competitive healthcare coverage including: medical offered through BCBS (HMO/PPO), dental, and vision offered through VSP
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
• 16 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for all new parents
• 16 weeks 100% paid family caregiver leave
• 20 weeks 100% paid medical leave
• Eligible for "Moderna Month" (one month paid sabbatical after five years of service and eligible for additional one month paid sabbatical every 3 years thereafter)
• Adoption assistance and discounts to local childcare centers, as well as access to care.com
• 401k (traditional and Roth offered) with 50% match on first 6% deferred. Match is vested immediately
• A suite of Moderna paid insurance coverage, including: life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary legal assistance plan
• 15 days' vacation and 7 sick days per year, in addition to a discretionary winter shut down and 11 company paid holidays (includes 2 floating holidays)

About Moderna:

In 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a science research-stage company advancing programs in the promising-but-still-unproven field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with its first medicine having treated millions of people, a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across six modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production at scale and at unprecedented speed. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna's capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use of one of the earliest and most-effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moderna's mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and auto-immune diseases. Today, 24 development programs are underway across these therapeutic areas, with 13 programs having entered the clinic. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past six years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free work environment.

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

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Keywords: Moderna Theraputics, Cambridge , Scientist, Infectious Disease Research, Other , Cambridge, Massachusetts