Advisor – In Vivo CAR Discovery

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 224,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-sponsored 401(k)

Comprehensive health benefits

Vacation benefits

Job summary

Initial Therapeutics, Inc. is hiring a senior scientist for their Drug Discovery organization. The successful candidate will lead efforts to discover, screen, and characterize novel in-vivo CAR candidates, collaborating closely with experts in LNP and RNA delivery. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field and a strong background in immunology and cell biology.

The anticipated wage is between $138,000 and $224,400 with additional benefits including bonuses, medical insurance, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• PhD required; extensive immunology research experience preferred.
• Proven track record in target identification and validation.
• Experience in drug discovery from target validation to candidate progression.

Responsibilities

• Serve as subject-matter expert in immunology for CAR programs.
• Collaborate with delivery experts to refine CAR product designs.
• Advance in-vivo CAR strategies and design relevant studies.
• Implement assays to characterize CAR activity.
• Lead screening and prioritize CAR candidates.
• Translate complex datasets into decisions for portfolio reviews.
• Mentor scientists and contribute to external scientific leadership.

Skills

Immunology expertise

Cell biology

Molecular biology

Functional genomics

Education

PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking an accomplished scientist to join Lilly’s Drug Discovery organization as an Advisor. This is a senior individual‑contributor role centered on the discovery of novel in‑vivo CAR products. The successful candidate will screen, test, and discover new CAR candidates - designing and driving the in‑vitro and in‑vivo studies that characterize their activity, leading the screening and down‑selection that prioritizes leads, and translating the resulting data into clear progression decisions. Partnering closely with LNP and RNA delivery experts, they will contribute the immunology expertise that shapes construct and delivery choices, serve as a scientific lead across cross‑functional project teams, and mentor scientists across the group. The role is central to Lilly’s in‑vivo CAR ambitions within genomic medicine.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the immunology subject‑matter expert for the group’s in‑vivo CAR programs—the resident authority on CAR biology, immune‑cell function, and the determinants of a successful CAR product.
• Collaborate closely with lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and RNA delivery experts to define and refine optimal CAR product designs, contributing the immunology requirements that inform construct and delivery decisions while maintaining sufficient fluency in delivery considerations to interpret design rationale and partner effectively.
• Advance in‑vivo CAR strategies, including LNP-delivered CAR constructs - designing and running studies that evaluate in‑situ CAR generation, expression, and efficacy in disease‑relevant models.
• Personally design and implement in‑vitro and in‑vivo assays to characterize CAR activity (potency, cytotoxicity, antigen specificity, and persistence), and interpret the data to drive construct optimization.
• Lead screening and down‑selection across CAR candidate panels, defining the criteria, assays, and data packages used to rank constructs and prioritize leads for advancement.
• Translate complex in‑vitro and in‑vivo datasets into clear go/no‑go recommendations and present them to senior governance and portfolio review forums.
• Serve as the discovery biology lead on cross‑functional project teams, aligning LNP/delivery, protein engineering, translational, and DMPK partners around a shared scientific strategy.
• Mentor and develop scientists across the group, elevating technical rigor and immunological judgment; maintain external scientific leadership through publications, conferences, collaborations, and contributions to IP and partnering discussions.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Post‑PhD experience in immunology research (industry or comparable academic/translational setting).
• Demonstrated track record of target identification and validation, evidenced by publications, patents, or pipeline contributions.
• Deep, hands‑on expertise in immune cell biology and modern target‑discovery approaches (e.g., functional genomics, single‑cell technologies, primary human cell assays).
• Experience leading the biology workstream on a drug discovery program from target validation through candidate progression.
• Working knowledge of multiple therapeutic modalities (small molecule, antibody/biologics) and how target biology informs modality selection.
• Strong record of cross‑functional influence and the ability to drive scientific decisions without direct authority.
• Disease‑area depth in autoimmunity and/or inflammation.

Compensation & Benefits

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $138,000 - $224,400.

Full‑time equivalent employees will also be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company‑sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well‑being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).

Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs at its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.