Metaphore: Antibody Discovery and Molecular Biology Co-Op

Flagship Pioneering, Inc.; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 3,444,000 - 4,822,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Build alongside founders

Future opportunities across Flagship

Collaborative culture and mentorship

Ownership of real work

Job summary

Metaphore Biotechnologies, Inc. seeks a motivated Co-op to support early-stage discovery efforts in the PAD program. You will provide hands-on laboratory support for cloning, expression, and antibody-based assays, enabling rapid advancement toward POC.

You will collaborate with Discovery and Molecular Biology teams, contributing to high-quality data, and gaining exposure to automation, assay execution, and cross-project support within a fast-paced biotech environment.

Qualifications

• Must be collaborative and adaptable, with a positive attitude and a strong willingness to learn new skills.
• Basic molecular biology and protein biochemistry skills.
• Familiarity with standard wet-lab techniques.
• Ability to follow established protocols accurately and reproducibly.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness to work across multiple projects and teams in a dynamic environment.
• Comfort contributing in a fast-paced, resource-conscious discovery setting.

Responsibilities

• Execute routine, mission-critical discovery and molecular biology experiments supporting target validation, hit identification, and early characterization in the PAD program.
• Perform library preparation, cloning, and hit screening.
• Conduct antibody selection via phage display–based biopanning on PAD-relevant targets.
• Carry out ELISA-based screening and other binding/characterization assays.
• Support cloning projects for antibody expression and high-throughput pipelines.
• Contribute to laboratory automation workflows and other foundational assays as needed.

Skills

Collaborative mindset

Willingness to learn

Basic molecular biology

Protein biochemistry

Wet-lab techniques

Follow established protocols

Attention to detail

Cross-team collaboration

Fast-paced environment

Tools

Phage display

ELISA

Cloning

Gibson Assembly

Golden Gate Assembly

Job description

**This position is open exclusively to current Northeastern University Co-Op students.

Work Period:**
January 2027 to June 2027. This is a full - time, 40 hours per week position with 5 days in office.

About Metaphore Biotechnologies, Inc.

Metaphore Biotechnologies, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company building the next generation of biological therapeutics. Inspired by nature, our mission is to transform patient lives by unlocking the power of biological therapeutics with a new mimic-discovery platform.

About Flagship Pioneering

Metaphore Biotechnologies was founded by Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the company’s Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

FlagshipPioneering Co-Op Program

Welcome to Flagship Pioneering Co-Op Program for the cohort dreaming big and taking courageous leaps. You’ll join fellow peers across our ecosystem of companies and learning firsthand how we build first-in-category companies. You’ll have access to enrichment sessions , a dedicated professional development track , and a mentor that help guide you toward your next step. By the end, you will carry on a meaningful project outcome , a genuine network , and a front-row view of how Flagship pioneer new ventures that change the world.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Co-op to support early-stage discovery efforts within our Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) program, a newly initiated therapeutic discovery program focused on achieving proof-of-concept (POC) by the end of the year. This position will provide hands‑on experimental support for routine but mission‑critical discoveryand molecular biologyactivities that enable efficient advancement of the program. The role offers meaningful exposure to foundational discovery workflows within a fast‑paced, research‑focused environment, with opportunities to contribute across additional programs as bandwidth allows.This position is a unique joint effort between the Discovery and Molecular Biology teams, with opportunities to support cloning projects focused on antibody expression, contribute to high‑throughput cloning pipelines, and gain exposure to laboratory automation.

Key Responsibilities:

The Co‑op’s core responsibilities will focus on executing routine, mission‑critical discoveryand molecular biologyexperiments that support target validation, hit identification, and early characterization within the PAD program. The role will involve hands‑on laboratory work using established protocols, with opportunities to contribute to:

• Molecular biology techniques supporting library preparation, cloning, and hit screening
• Antibody selection methodologies, including phage display–based biopanning on PAD‑relevant targets
• ELISA‑based screening and other binding and characterization assays

Cloning projects supporting antibody expression and high‑throughput cloning pipelines

Laboratory automation workflows, as applicable

Additional foundational assays required to advance early discovery milestones efficiently

The Co‑op will work closely with Discovery and Molecular Biology scientists to generate high‑quality experimental data that support timely decision‑making and progress toward POC. As a shared resource across these teams, the role may also contribute to assay execution, cloning, and general laboratory needs for additional discovery programs as capacity allows.

Required Qualifications:

• A collaborative and adaptable mindset with a positive attitude and a strong willingness to learn new skills
• Basic molecular biology and protein biochemistry skills
• Familiarity with standard wet‑lab techniques
• Ability to follow established protocols accurately and reproducibly
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Willingness to work across multiple projects and teams in a dynamic environment
• Comfort contributing in a fast‑paced, resource‑conscious discovery setting

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting
• Hands‑on experience with phage display, ELISAs, or related assay formats (e.g. yeast or mammalian display)
• Experience with cloning and routine molecular biology techniques such as Gibson or Golden Gate Assembly
• Basic understanding of protein or antibody biochemistry
• Experience maintaining clear and accurate experimental records

What We Offer

• Build alongside founders. You’ll work inside the same hypothesis‑driven process Flagship uses to conceive and launch first‑in‑category companies.
• This can be the start of a longer story. Strong co‑ops are considered for future opportunities across Flagship and its portfolio companies, not just for this one role.
• Work alongside people who left the safe path. Your colleagues are scientists, engineers, and operators who chose to build something new rather than join something already established.
• Take on real ownership. You’re contributing to ventures that are still being defined. Your work can shape real decisions, not just support them.
• Be paid like the contributor you are. Compensation reflects the real work you take on.

Flagship Pioneering is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

The pay range for this role is $25 - $35 per hour. This role is a short-term engagement that is not eligible for health and welfare benefits. Retirement benefits may be available after completing a set number of hours. Compensation and benefits information is based on Metaphore Biotechnologies’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact [e-mail].

The pay range for this role is $25 - $35 per hour. This role is a short-term engagement that is not eligible for health and welfare benefits. Retirement benefits may be available after completing a set number of hours. Compensation and benefits information is based on Metaphore Biotechnologies, Inc.’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact [e-mail].