Sr. Research Associate, Immunology, Infectious Disease
ModernaTX, Inc.

Job Info

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The Role:

The Infectious Diseases group at Moderna is seeking a talented, experienced, and motivated Scientist with experience in Systems Serology, epitope specific characterization, antibody functional profiling, antibody isolation and glycan analysis. The candidate will be part of a team responsible for advancing therapeutic and vaccine candidates in early discovery through IND-enabling studies, and clinical trials. The candidate will design and execute experiments, generate functional antibody assays to define the precise epitope-specific functional immune responses associated with protection across pre-clinical to clinical models, work with the protein expression team to define epitope specificity and develop next generation operating protocols that can be used to guide vaccine development. This work will include the design, development, and execution of studies to define the mechanism by which antibodies provide protection from infection or control disease, including the characterization of the immune cells that contribute to vaccine mediated protection from disease. In addition, the candidate will help to identify, develop, and use novel immune assays to guide monoclonal antibody characterization for future mRNA interventions. The candidate will interface with collaborators and present results both internally and externally. The ability to effectively communicate across internal multi-disciplinary teams and with external partners is required. Applicants should be outstanding scientists, collaborative team members, excellent communicators, and should be excited to work with cutting edge mRNA technology in the advancement of vaccines against unmet infectious disease threats.

Here's What You'll Do:

• Run ELISA and binding assays
  
• Run systems serology and functional antibody profiling assays
  
• Perform epitope specific enrichment/depletion to characterize humoral immune responses
  
• Perform pathogen restriction assays using plasma samples
  
• Develop novel operating protocols for the characterization of humoral immune responses associated with protection
  
• Understanding how to integrate and analyze multi-dimensional data
  
• Have knowledge of pathogen-specific immunity
  
• Work to accelerate protein production and antibody downselection
  
• Assist in the identification of new targets for vaccine intervention and/or identification of novel approaches that utilize the mRNA platform in the development of new or better vaccines.
  
• Inspire the automation of several aspects of monoclonal antibody discovery
  
• Develop relations with pre-clinical CROs and review pre-clinical immunology results
  
• Run standard immune screens, including ELISAs, Systems Serology, Neutralization assays, Octet, Luminex or MSD.
  
• Review literature for relevant immune screening approaches and for new technology with application to infectious disease research.
  
• Manage multiple experiments, projects, and interactions with supporting functions simultaneously.
  

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

• Exceptional BSc with expertise in immunology and/or vaccinology is required. Knowledge of microbiology and/or computational sciences is a plus.
  
• 1-2 years of research experience in the pharmaceutical or academia will be a plus.
  
• Strong level of understanding of antibody functional profiles.
  
• Strong level of understanding and expertise in designing and executing immune-related studies and assays.
  
• Expertise in antibody epitope specific characterization
  
• Contributions to high impact publications and presentations in the field of immunology or vaccinology.
  
• The ability to work across pathogen types (bacteria, viruses, parasites)
  
• The ability to work in a cross-functional work environment is critical; strong leadership skills and independence skills 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 path for drug discovery, bold in proposing creative experimental designs and ideas. Will work collaboratively with multifunctional teams and will be relentless in pursuing successful outcomes.
  

Moderna is pleased to provide you and your family with a comprehensive and innovative suite of benefits, including:

• Highly competitive and inclusive medical, dental and vision coverage options
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
• Lifestyle Spending Account funds to help you engage in personal enrichment and self-care activities
• Family care benefits, including subsidized back-up care options and on-demand tutoring
• Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
• Exclusive preferred pricing on Peloton fitness equipment
• Adoption and family-planning benefits
• Dedicated care coordination support for our LGBTQ+ community
• Generous paid time off, including:
  • Vacation, sick time and holidays
  • Volunteer time to participate within your community
  • Discretionary winter shut down
  • Paid sabbatical after 5 years; every 3 years thereafter
• Generous Paid Leave offerings, including 18 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for all new parents
• 401k match and Financial Planning tools
• Moderna-paid Life, LTD and STD insurance coverages, as well as voluntary benefit options
• Complimentary concierge service including home services research, travel booking, and entertainment requests
• Free parking or subsidized commuter passes
• Location-specific perks and extras!

Candidates should be aware that Moderna currently maintains a policy requiring all US-based employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive a booster shot once eligible. Newly hired employees must be vaccinated and boosted prior to their employment start date. Moderna is an equal opportunity employer and will provide a reasonable accommodation to those unable to be vaccinated or receive a booster where it is not an undue hardship to the company to do so as provided under federal, state, and local law.

About Moderna

In over 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across seven modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for rapid clinical and commercial production at scale. 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 and approval 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 autoimmune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past seven 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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