Principal Scientist, Immunogenicity and Ligand Binding Assays

Moderna Therapeutics; Harwell; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Well-being resources

Family building benefits

Generous leave and time off

Savings plan

Job summary

Moderna Therapeutics seeks a senior leader to oversee LBA-based bioanalyses supporting mRNA-LNP clinical programs in the UK. You will guide immunogenicity strategy across development stages, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide hands-on leadership in assay development, validation, and study analyses.

The role requires a PhD with 10+ years in biotech/pharma, experience with GLP/GCP, and familiarity with LIMS systems. A transformative, collaborative, high-growth environment awaits in Harwell.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with extensive bioanalytical and clinical development experience.
• Experience leading LBA/ADA assay development and regulatory submissions.
• Strong communication skills and ability to operate in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific oversight of LBA-based bioanalyses for mRNA-LNP programs.
• Lead immunogenicity strategy across clinical development stages.
• Ensure GcLP/GLP/GCP compliance in analytical activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support regulatory questions.

Skills

Bioanalytical expertise

Regulatory compliance

Scientific leadership

Communication in matrix environments

Education

PhD in infectious disease, immunology, oncology or related field

Tools

Watson LIMS

LabVantage eLBN

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. This role sits at the forefront of Moderna’s clinical bioanalytical strategy, providing deep scientific expertise and hands‑on leadership across immunogenicity and ligand binding assay (LBA) bioanalysis for our mRNA‑LNP therapeutic pipeline. As an individual contributor, you will shape and execute phase-appropriate bioanalytical strategies that enable critical clinical development decisions while ensuring the highest standards of scientific rigor and regulatory compliance. Working closely with cross-functional development teams, you will drive regulated immunogenicity and bioanalytical activities spanning assay development, validation, sample analysis, data interpretation, and regulatory support. You will play a pivotal role in advancing innovative medicines through clinical development while leveraging modern digital capabilities and emerging analytical technologies, including opportunities to work alongside advanced data and AI-enabled approaches that accelerate scientific insight generation.

Here’s What You’ll Do:

Provide scientific and hands‑on oversight of ligand binding assay (LBA)-based bioanalyses supporting Moderna’s mRNA‑LNP therapeutic development programs. Support and oversee the Immunogenicity function through clinical science‑driven, phase‑appropriate, and risk‑based bioanalytical development strategies across advancing stages of clinical development. Lead and facilitate anti‑drug antibody (ADA) assay and neutralizing antibody assay regulated method development, validation, and clinical sample testing activities. Ensure in‑house GcLP compliance across the LBA team, systems, and procedures, maintaining rigorous laboratory practices and regulatory requirements for analytical activities through a phase‑appropriate approach. Design and execute phase‑appropriate clinical analytical strategies supporting development programs. Drive development, validation, and implementation of: Cell‑based assays, Immunoassays, Quantitation of translated proteins, Pharmacokinetic (PK) assays, Pharmacodynamic (PD) assays. Review and evaluate raw analytical data, assay validation data, and study reports to ensure scientific integrity, data quality, and compliance with current regulatory, industry, and Moderna standards. Assess analytical performance and laboratory compliance to ensure data generated meet both scientific and regulatory expectations. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support clinical bioanalytical activities throughout the product development lifecycle. Contribute to regulatory submissions and support responses to regulatory authority questions and information requests. Maintain current knowledge of emerging scientific literature, industry best practices, regulatory expectations, and evolving guidance related to clinical bioanalysis. Ensure adherence to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GcLP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), internal SOPs, applicable regulations, guidance documents, and relevant white papers. Apply scientific judgment and risk‑based decision making to support robust bioanalytical strategies that accelerate development while maintaining quality and compliance. Partner with multidisciplinary teams to advance innovative analytical approaches and continuously improve laboratory and bioanalytical processes.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

We obsess over learning. We don’t have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest. We act with dynamic range, driving strategy and execution at the same time at every step.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)

A Ph.D. in infectious disease, Immuno‑oncology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, or related fields and a minimum of 10+ years of industry biotech/pharmaceutical experience. M.S. with extensive bioanalytical experience are considered. Experience with RNA, biologics and cell therapy preferred. Experience of various platforms such as ECL, Gyrolabs, reporter gene assays, Delphi assays and other methodologies for clinical assays. Ability to effectively communicate scientific concepts, program objectives, data analysis within a matrix environment. Knowledge of GLP requirements and understanding of current industry trends and regulatory expectations associated with bioanalytical science. Experience on Watson LIMS and LabVantage eLBN would be an advantage. A desire to make an impact as part of a high‑growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our global benefits and well‑being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best‑in‑class 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
• The 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 peopleare 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. 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. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

Our Mission and Vision

At Moderna we are pioneering the development of a new class of drugs made of messenger RNA (mRNA). This novel drug platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the body’s cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs that can have therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells. We have a clear mission to propel the field of mRNA science forward and deliver new medicines to patients and a unique vision for how to achieve this mission.

• Our Mission: To deliver on the promise of transformative messenger RNA (mRNA) science to bring new medicines to patients.
• Our Vision: To unlock the potential of mRNA by establishing an ecosystem of teams and partners that will work together to develop the broadest possible array of drugs, across diverse therapeutic areas and routes of administration, for serious diseases that are not treatable today.

Moderna is a smoke‑free, alcohol‑free, and drug‑free work environment. Moderna is a place where everyone can grow.

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. We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. 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].

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.