Scientist, Protein Design
Moderna
Summary
Moderna is seeking a Scientist to provide technical experience for in vitro selection and cell-surface screening of viral and bacterial antigens. This role will lead the design, execution, and continuous advancement of high-throughput mammalian cell-based screening platforms that interrogate broadly applicable design principles for glycoprotein antigens, enabling antigen optimization, improved expression and durability across multiple programs, and rapid maturation of computationally designed candidates.
Job description
The Scientist will provide technical leadership through direct involvement in the design and execution of complex in vitro selection campaigns, setting experimental strategy and partnering closely with computational protein design teams to ensure designs are evaluated and refined at scale. In addition to antigen-focused efforts, this individual will be cross-trained to support screening of de novo designed proteins, including minibinders and VHHs, as a shared discovery resource.
Here's What You'll Do
- Lead execution of in vitro selection and cell-surface screening campaigns, providing technical leadership through direct involvement in experimental design and execution.
- Design and run high-throughput mammalian display campaigns for complex, multimeric glycoproteins.
- Build and deploy scalable screening systems that replace resource-intensive plate-based assays.
- Develop and operationalize advanced in vitro selection and directed-evolution capabilities, including novel selection pressures and expanded mammalian display modalities.
- Serve as a key experimental partner to computational protein design teams, generating high-quality datasets and actionable design feedback.
- Represent in vitro selection capabilities in cross-functional discovery and platform discussions.
Here's What You'll Need (Basic Qualifications)
- PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to drive complex screening campaigns end-to-end.
- Deep expertise in mammalian display systems, high-throughput selection strategies, and experimental assay design.
- Scientific independence, judgment, and ownership consistent with a Scientist role.
Here's What You'll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)
- Expertise with antigen expression and engineering (e.g., strategies around folding, trafficking, cleavage, stability, and glycan impacts).
- Strong capabilities in library design and construction (site-saturation, combinatorial, error-prone, DNA assembly), plus NGS-based readouts and quantitative enrichment analysis.
Requirements
- PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, or a related field
- Demonstrated ability to drive complex screening campaigns end-to-end
- Deep expertise in mammalian display systems, high-throughput selection strategies, and experimental assay design
- Scientific independence, judgment, and ownership consistent with a Scientist role
- Expertise with antigen expression and engineering (e.g., strategies around folding, trafficking, cleavage, stability, and glycan impacts)
- Strong capabilities in library design and construction (site-saturation, combinatorial, error-prone, DNA assembly), plus NGS-based readouts and quantitative enrichment analysis
Benefits
- Competitive healthcare
- Voluntary benefit programs
- Fitness support
- Mindfulness support
- Mental health support
- Family planning benefits
- Fertility support
- Adoption support
- Surrogacy support
- Paid time off
- Vacation
- Volunteer days
- Sabbatical
- Global recharge days
- Discretionary year-end shutdown
- Savings and investments
Company overview
Moderna, Inc. is a pioneering American biotechnology and pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that has revolutionized the field of medicine through its groundbreaking messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Founded in 2010, the company has established itself as a global leader in RNA therapeutics, primarily focusing on mRNA vaccines and treatments. Moderna's innovative platform uses mRNA to provide cellular instructions for producing proteins that trigger immune responses, creating a new category of medicines with significant potential to improve patient outcomes across various therapeutic areas. The company gained worldwide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for developing one of the earliest and most effective mRNA vaccines, which demonstrated the transformative potential of its technology platform. Beyond infectious diseases, Moderna is advancing a diverse pipeline of 44 treatment and vaccine candidates across infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune conditions. With approximately 5,800 employees and a strong commitment to scientific innovation, Moderna continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities and research initiatives to deliver the greatest possible impact through mRNA medicines.