Principal Scientist, LNP Discovery Biology

EMD Serono, Inc.; Billerica (MA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement contributions

Other perquisites

Job summary

EMD Serono, Inc. in the United States is seeking a Principal Scientist, LNP Discovery Biology to lead assays for the in vivo CAR-T program within the Research Unit Neuroscience & Immunology.

The role sits at the interface of LNP delivery and immunology and collaborates with formulation/CMC, protein engineering, and analytical teams to advance a differentiated targeted delivery platform. This hands-on, cross-functional role is a core member of the project team, representing in vivo CAR-T biology

Qualifications

• PhD in immunology, cell biology, or molecular biology.
• 6+ years post-PhD experience in biotech or pharma.
• Deep T cell immunology background including CAR biology.
• Experience with in vivo CAR-T programs using targeted LNP.
• Ownership of in vivo study design in humanized mouse models.
• Experience with non-human primate studies (NHP).
• Strong multicolor flow cytometry skills: panel design and analysis.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration and clear scientific communication.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute and lead in vitro and ex vivo studies for targeted LNP delivery.
• Design in vivo studies in humanized mouse models and NHPs.
• Run multicolor flow cytometry readouts and set analysis standards.
• Translate in vitro data into in vivo study designs to discriminate candidates.
• Interpret tolerability data and drive Go/No-Go decisions.
• Present data to leadership and regulators as programs mature.

Skills

T cell immunology

CAR biology

In vivo pharmacology

Flow cytometry

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in immunology or related field

Job description

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Serono.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Your Role

The Principal Scientist, LNP Discovery Biology position is a scientific and cross-functional role, responsible for developing assays for the in vivo CAR-T program within the Research Unit Neuroscience & Immunology (N&I). The role sits at the interface of LNP delivery and immunology, and works closely with formulation/CMC, protein engineering, and analytical teams to progress development of a differentiated targeted delivery platform.

This is a hands‑on scientific cross‑functional role and a core member of the project team, representing in LNP biology alongside pharmacology, CMC, formulation, analytical, regulatory, program management, and our external partners and CROs across sites and time zones.

• Design, execute and lead in vitro and ex vivo studies in support of targeted LNP delivery platform.
• Help design in vivo studies in humanized mouse models (PBMC- and huCD34+-engrafted NSG) and non-human primates, including group structure, dose levels, dosing schedules, bleed cadence, and endpoint panels.
• Run and interpret multicolor flow cytometry readouts – CAR expression, reporter signal, target cell depletion, T cell activation and engraftment – and set the analysis standards the team works to.
• Partner with formulation, lipid chemistry, and targeting-ligand teams to translate in vitro conjugation and potency data into in vivo study designs that discriminate between candidates.
• Interpret tolerability data (cytokines, liver enzymes, hematology, coagulation, complement) and drive Go/No-Go recommendations on candidate selection.
• Build and defend head-to-head comparisons against commercial benchmarks and published competitor data, including the caveats (pretreatment status, dosing regimen, assay scaling) that determine whether a comparison holds.
• Represent in vivo CAR-T biology on the project team: bring study plans and data into cross-functional reviews, align timelines with CMC, formulation, analytical, regulatory, and program management.
• Write and present data to internal leadership, partners, advisors, and – as programs mature – regulators.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to growing the LNP Discovery Biology group as the portfolio expands.

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, or a related field.
• 6+ years of post-PhD experience in biotech, or pharma.
• Deep T cell immunology background, including CAR biology, pharmacology and in vitro studies required. Additionally, experience with in vivo CAR-T programs using targeted LNP required.
• Demonstrated ownership of in vivo study design in humanized mouse models; direct experience designing or interpreting NHP studies.
• Strong practical command of multicolor flow cytometry: panel design, compensation, gating strategy, and the failure modes of each.
• Track record of taking a program through candidate selection or IND-enabling work.
• Demonstrated success working cross-functionally on a matrixed or global project team, with colleagues and partners in other functions, sites, and time zones.
• Clear written and verbal communication – this role presents to leadership, partners, and advisors regularly, and influences without formal authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on familiarity with LNP delivery: mRNA cargo, in vitro pharmacology, biodistribution, and how formulation choices change the in vivo result.
• Experience developing and qualifying novel in vivo and ex vivo assays and transferring them to other scientists or CROs.
• Prior work on B cell depletion, autoimmune disorders, or CD19/CD20-directed therapies.
• Experience designing NHP and in vivo studies in support of drug candidate selection.
• Experience in IND-enabling research and GLP study oversight, including regulatory interactions (pre-IND, IND, or equivalent).
• Biotech start-up experience, or experience building an platform capability from the ground up.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Immunology & Inflammation biology as it relates to targeted delivery therapeutic strategies.
• Comfort in a fast-moving, partner-facing environment where the data and the slides are often due the same week.

Pay Range for this position: $126,900 – 215,400

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!