Principal Scientist - Cellular Biology

Marrow Therapeutics; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Marrow Therapeutics in Watertown, MA seeks an accomplished scientist to lead the Cellular Biology function, combining hands-on experimentation with scientific leadership to advance hematologic disease programs.

You will develop bone marrow and hematology models, apply scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, CUT&RUN, and integrate data to shape strategy, support candidate selection, and drive IND-enabling activities with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS with extensive biopharmaceutical industry experience.
• Expert background in bone marrow biology and hematology.
• Hands-on experience developing cell-based models of hematologic diseases.
• Strong knowledge of kinase signaling pathways and mechanistic studies.
• Experience with functional genomic and epigenomic approaches (scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, CUT&RUN).
• Ability to design rigorous genomic/epigenomic experiments and integrate results with cellular data.
• Hands-on core cellular biology skills: flow cytometry, PCR, ELISA, cell culture.
• Proven leadership and cross-functional program management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and build the Cellular Biology function with scientific strategy and standards.
• Develop cell-based translational models of hematologic diseases focusing on bone marrow biology.
• Design studies to characterize pharmacodynamic and mechanistic properties of therapeutic molecules.
• Identify druggable targets and opportunities addressing unmet hematologic needs.
• Investigate kinase-driven signaling pathways to understand therapeutic response.
• Apply scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, CUT&RUN to define cellular states and chromatin regulation.
• Integrate multi-omic data to generate mechanistic hypotheses for drug discovery.
• Develop and optimize assays (flow cytometry, PCR, ELISA) and primary-cell culture.
• Generate data to support candidate selection and go/no-go decisions.
• Mentor scientists and maintain hands-on bench involvement during function build-out.

Job description

We are seeking an accomplished and highly collaborative scientist to lead the Cellular Biology function. The ideal candidate will bring deep scientific and technical expertise in bone marrow biology and hematology, extensive hands‑on experience developing cell‑based translational models of genetically defined human hematologic diseases, and strong mechanistic expertise in cell signaling, including kinase‑driven pathways.

The successful candidate will also bring experience applying advanced functional genomic and epigenomic approaches including scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and CUT&RUN to understand disease biology, pharmacodynamic response, and therapeutic mechanism of action.

This individual will serve as both a scientific leader and a hands‑on experimentalist, generating decision‑enabling data that shape scientific strategy, identify novel therapeutic opportunities, support candidate selection, and advance programs toward and through the clinic.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and build the Cellular Biology function, establishing scientific strategy, experimental capabilities, and rigorous standards for cellular and mechanistic biology.
• Develop and implement cell‑based translational models of genetically defined human hematologic diseases, with particular emphasis on bone marrow and hematopoietic biology.
• Design and execute studies that characterize the pharmacodynamic and mechanistic properties of novel therapeutic molecules.
• Apply deep expertise in hematology and bone marrow biology to identify novel druggable targets, therapeutic approaches, and opportunities addressing unmet needs in priority hematologic diseases.
• Investigate kinase‑driven and other intracellular signaling pathways to understand target biology, therapeutic response, and downstream cellular effects.
• Apply functional genomic and epigenomic approaches including scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and CUT&RUN to characterize cellular states, transcriptional programs, chromatin regulation, and therapeutic mechanisms.
• Integrate cellular, signaling, genomic, and epigenomic data to generate mechanistic hypotheses and guide drug‑discovery strategy.
• Develop and optimize fit‑for‑purpose cellular and molecular assays, including flow cytometry, PCR, ELISA, and primary‑cell culture.
• Generate data to support therapeutic candidate selection and prioritization and to inform go/no‑go decisions.
• Help shape the future discovery and innovation portfolio through identification and evaluation of new biological hypotheses and therapeutic opportunities.
• Partner closely with cross‑functional R&D stakeholders to ensure seamless study execution, timely data delivery, and alignment across the pipeline.
• Establish and manage CRO partnerships, external scientific collaborations, and internal capabilities supporting therapeutic identification, assay development, and candidate selection.
• Contribute to regulatory filings, scientific publications, data interpretation, and other activities supporting program and portfolio objectives.
• Mentor and develop scientists while fostering a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Maintain substantial hands‑on laboratory involvement during the initial build‑out of the function, with bench work expected to represent approximately 50% of the role initially, decreasing as the team grows.

Requirements

• PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience in pharmacology, cell biology, hematology, molecular biology, or a related discipline; or MS with 10+ years of extensive relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience.
• Expert scientific and technical background in bone marrow biology and hematology, with demonstrated application to drug discovery, target identification, and/or development of novel therapeutic molecules.
• Extensive hands‑on experience developing cell‑based models of genetically defined human hematologic diseases.
• Strong expertise in kinase biology, phosphatase biology, and/or intracellular signaling pathways, with demonstrated experience using mechanistic studies to understand therapeutic response.
• Demonstrated experience with functional genomic and epigenomic approaches, including:
• • Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)
  • ATAC-seq
  • o CUT&RUN and/or closely related chromatin‑profiling approaches
• Ability to design rigorous genomic/epigenomic experiments, understand appropriate controls and technical considerations, critically interpret resulting datasets, and integrate findings with cellular and mechanistic biology.
• Deep hands‑on expertise with core cellular biology techniques, including flow cytometry, PCR, ELISA, and cell culture.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing experimental strategies that generate mechanistic insight into hematologic disease biology and therapeutic correction.
• Proven scientific leadership, people leadership, and project management experience, including leading cross‑functional, collaborative programs.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, organizational, and stakeholder‑management skills.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Direct hands‑on execution and troubleshooting of multiple functional genomic/epigenomic techniques, particularly scRNA‑seq, ATAC‑seq, and CUT&RUN.
• Experience integrating multi‑omic datasets with cellular phenotypes, signaling biology, and pharmacodynamic data.
• Experience advancing therapeutic programs through candidate selection and toward IND‑enabling development.
• Experience contributing to regulatory filings.
• Experience managing GLP‑and/or cGMP‑compliant workflows.
• Experience establishing new laboratory capabilities and managing external CRO or academic collaborations.