Manager, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology

Moderna Therapeutics; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive healthcare

Well-being programs

Family building benefits

Generous paid time off

Savings and investments

Location-specific perks

Job summary

Moderna Therapeutics in Melbourne seeks a highly skilled quantitative pharmacology scientist to develop and apply mechanistic QSP and PK/PD/PBPK models across our portfolio. You will translate preclinical data to human outcomes, integrate diverse data, and support decision-making for clinical development.

You will collaborate with Pharmacology, Translational Medicine and Clinical Development teams, leveraging AI-enabled tools while maintaining scientific rigor.

Qualifications

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences or related quantitative field.
• Experience developing mechanistic mathematical models in biology/pharmacology.
• 1–4+ years in quantitative pharmacology (QSP, PK/PD, PBPK) in drug discovery/development.
• Strong pharmacology, PK, and drug development knowledge.
• Experience integrating preclinical/clinical data for model development.
• Proficiency with MATLAB, R, Python, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply QSP models integrating data across Moderna’s portfolio.
• Develop mechanistic PK/PD and PBPK models for drug disposition and clinical response.
• Apply modeling to support candidate selection and translation.
• Integrate diverse data sources to develop and validate mechanistic models.
• Perform calibration, sensitivity, and uncertainty analyses and simulations.
• Collaborate with Pharmacology, Toxicology, Translational Medicine, Research and Clinical Development teams.
• Communicate modeling strategies and results to multidisciplinary teams and leadership.
• Contribute modeling analyses to regulatory documents as appropriate.
• Stay updated on QSP and related disciplines; apply Generative AI tools when appropriate.
• Operate as a collaborative individual contributor in a fast-paced environment.
• Apply Moderna Mindsets to learning and strategy execution.

Skills

Quantitative modeling

QSP (Quantitative Systems Pharmacology

PK/PD

PBPK

MATLAB/SimBiology

R

Python

Data integration

Scientific communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in a quantitative discipline

Tools

MATLAB/SimBiology

R

Python

Job description

The Role

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. You will join Moderna’s Clinical and Quantitative Pharmacology organization in Melbourne, developing and applying mechanistic quantitative systems pharmacology models across our therapeutic portfolio and mRNA platform. As an individual contributor, you will work at the intersection of disease biology, pharmacology and clinical development, integrating preclinical, clinical and literature data to strengthen translation from preclinical species to humans and inform critical program decisions. This role offers the opportunity to combine QSP, PK/PD, PBPK and other model‑informed approaches with emerging digital and Generative AI‑enabled tools to accelerate quantitative insight, scientific learning and drug development.

What You Will Do

• Develop and apply quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models that integrate biological, pharmacological and clinical knowledge to address key drug development questions across Moderna’s portfolio.
• Develop mechanistic PK/PD, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and translational models to characterize drug disposition, pharmacological activity, and relationships among dose, exposure, biomarkers and clinical response.
• Apply quantitative modeling and simulation to support candidate selection, preclinical‑to‑clinical translation, first‑in‑human dose selection, dose escalation and dose‑regimen optimization.
• Integrate diverse data sources, including in vitro, in vivo, clinical and literature data, to develop and validate mechanistic models and generate testable hypotheses.
• Perform model calibration, parameter estimation, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty analysis and simulation to characterize key drivers of pharmacological response and inform decision‑making.
• Collaborate closely with scientists and project teams across Pharmacology, Toxicology, Translational Medicine, Research, Clinical Development and other cross‑functional disciplines to identify opportunities where quantitative modeling can have meaningful program impact.
• Provide quantitative and mechanistic interpretation of experimental and clinical data to improve understanding of mechanism of action, disease biology, pharmacological activity and sources of variability in response.
• Communicate modeling strategies, assumptions, results and recommendations to multidisciplinary project teams and scientific leadership.
• Contribute quantitative modeling analyses and scientific rationale to regulatory documents and interactions, as appropriate.
• Maintain awareness of advances in QSP, systems biology, pharmacometrics, computational biology and related quantitative disciplines, incorporating relevant methodologies into drug development programs.
• Explore opportunities to apply Generative AI and other advanced digital tools to scientific literature synthesis, knowledge integration, model‑development workflows and data interrogation, while maintaining appropriate scientific rigor and validation.
• Operate effectively as a highly collaborative individual contributor in a fast‑paced scientific environment, bringing strong quantitative modeling capability and scientific curiosity to complex drug development questions.
• Apply the Moderna Mindsets: “We obsess over learning. We don’t have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest.” and “We act with dynamic range, driving strategy and execution at the same time at every step.”

What You Will Need (Basic Qualifications)

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, systems biology, computational biology, applied mathematics, or related quantitative discipline.
• Experience of developing and applying mechanistic mathematical models to biological or pharmacological systems.
• 1‑4+ years of experience in quantitative pharmacology, including QSP, PK/PD, PBPK, or other mechanistic modeling or differential equation‑based mechanistic modeling approaches supporting drug discovery and development.
• Strong knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug development, and quantitative analysis.
• Experience integrating and analyzing preclinical and/or clinical pharmacology data to support model development and simulation.
• Proficiency with quantitative modeling and scientific computing software such as MATLAB/SimBiology, R, Python, or similar platforms.
• Ability to independently formulate biological and pharmacological questions into quantitative modeling strategies.
• Strong scientific communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex modeling concepts and results to both quantitative and non‑quantitative audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary and cross‑functional teams.

Our Working Model

As we build our company, we have always believed an in‑person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in‑office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in‑office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship.

Pay & Benefits

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well‑being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year‑end shutdown
• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
• Location‑specific perks and extras (benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work)

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world‑class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world. By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non‑discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person’s race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at [e-mail].

Third Party Staffing Agencies

Moderna does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. For the protection of all parties involved in the recruiting process, resumes will only be accepted from recruiters/agencies if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position. Unsolicited resumes sent to Moderna from recruiters/agencies do not constitute any type of relationship between the recruiter/agency and Moderna and do not obligate Moderna to pay fees if we hire from those resumes.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Please inform the company’s personnel representative by calling 617‑460‑9346 or emailing [e-mail] if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.