Scientist

Portal; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Portal Biotechnologies, headquartered in Watertown, MA, seeks an innovative scientist with a strong foundation in cell biology and hands-on experience with primary cells to join our growing team. In this role, you’ll work at the intersection of biology and engineering, developing novel assays, protocols, and experimental approaches to advance our platform technology.

A key focus will be working closely with our engineering team to bring our technology to market and into the clinic, with emphasis

Qualifications

• Must-have PhD or MS with 4–6 years experience in biomedicine.
• Experience with primary cell culture and multicolor flow cytometry.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel 15–20% locally and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects to design and validate cell modification strategies in various cell types, focusing on human primary cells.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering to optimize delivery and platform development.
• Develop SOPs for point-of-care delivery and ensure reproducibility of assays.
• Coordinate studies with external collaborators and clients.

Skills

Primary cell culture

Flow cytometry

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

PhD in biomedical sciences / related field

MS with 4–6 years experience

Job description

Portal Biotechnologies, headquartered in Watertown, MA, is a rapidly scaling cell‑engineering platform company operating across three high‑value business lines (biopharma R&D screening, next‑generation cell therapy manufacturing, and AI training data generation), addressing markets totaling $100B+. Since launching its first product in 2024, Portal has built a network of 100+ active customers, including the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies and leading academic hospitals and cancer centers worldwide.

Backed by $24M in venture funding and an $8M DARPA contract, Portal’s proprietary mechanoporation technology enables efficient multiplex delivery of diverse cargos such as RNA, proteins, small molecules, and gene‑editing tools without compromising cell function. The approach is simple and scalable, supporting applications from high‑throughput drug screening to clinical‑scale manufacturing, and it works both as a stand‑alone system and as an integrated component in third‑party platforms.

In biopharma R&D, Portal’s products enable novel screening assays by delivering otherwise cell‑impermeable probes and candidate molecules directly into live cells, unlocking intracellular access that standard methods cannot provide. In cell therapy, Portal’s GMP‑integrated consumables and a DARPA‑funded portable device (launching 2027) are aimed at making engineered cell therapies as accessible and ubiquitous as an infusion pump. In AI training data, Portal generates high‑value, multiparametric datasets from primary cells, producing biologically relevant training data that current cell line‑based methods cannot replicate.

With a leadership team bringing decades of experience in biotech operations and clinical cell therapy development, Portal is positioned to become the foundational platform for next‑generation cell engineering, drug discovery, and biological AI data generation.

The Role:

We’re seeking an innovative, motivated scientist with a strong foundation in cell biology and hands‑on experience working with primary cells to join our growing team. In this role, you’ll work at the intersection of biology and engineering, developing novel assays, protocols, and experimental approaches to advance our platform technology.

A key focus will be working closely with our engineering team to bring our technology to market and into the clinic, with a particular emphasis on enabling point‑of‑care cell therapy. We’re excited about the potential of point‑of‑care approaches to expand access to advanced treatments and improve patients’ quality of life, and we’re looking for someone who shares that excitement.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of scientific projects, solve challenging technical problems, and collaborate across disciplines in a fast‑paced, early‑stage biotech environment. You’ll also work with external biopharma and academic partners who are exploring new applications for Portal technology.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Lead individual projects to design and validate cell modification strategies in various cell types with a key focus on human primary cells
• Work cross‑functionally with the team to optimize delivery strategies, and contribute to platform development and testing for new implementations of Portal technology
• Develop methodology and SOPs for point‑of‑care delivery
• Coordinate and serve as point‑of‑contact for studies and applications with external collaborators & clients

Your Experience & Qualifications:

Must-haves:

• PhD in biomedical sciences, immunology, cancer biology, biomedical engineering, or related field preferred; or MS in related field with 4-6 years experience
• Experience with primary cell culture (T cells, B Cells, NK cells, RBCs, Monocytes, or tumor cells preferred) and multicolor flow cytometry
• Clear and effective communicator with strong interpersonal, organizational, and record‑keeping skills
• Able to travel locally and internationally as needed, 15‑20%

Nice‑to‑haves:

• Immunological assay experience ( ELISAs, Cytotoxicity assays (co‑culture), MSD)
• Assay or methodology development
• Molecular biology experience (qPCR, gene editing)

Please Note:

Portal has two locations, one in the Boston area and one in San Carlos, CA. This position is in Watertown, MA. Free on‑site parking is available.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and to provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or gender identity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, we comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.