Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Molecular Biology

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc. in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Scientist or Senior Scientist in Molecular Biology to drive high-throughput vector design and molecular cloning, enable expression and engineered cell lines, and support discovery across multiple platforms.

The role focuses on building foundational molecular biology capabilities for display technologies, molecular interactions, and structural biology at the new Cambridge research center, with growth in scope and responsibility.

Qualifications

• PhD preferred; postdoctoral training considered
• 2+ years post-degree in vector design, molecular cloning, and cell line engineering (Scientist)
• 4+ years in these areas (Senior Scientist)
• Expertise in high-throughput vector design and cloning workflows (e.g., Golden Gate, Gibson)
• Experience with challenging target classes such as GPCRs and multi-pass transmembrane proteins
• Experience with genome editing (lentiviral transduction, CRISPR-Cas9)
• Hands-on cell culture and expression scaling (transient to stable) is a plus

Responsibilities

• Design and construct high-throughput expression vectors to support recombinant protein expression and engineered cell line generation
• Generate constructs and reagents for GPCRs, receptor-Fc fusions, and biotinylated bait antigens
• Engineer mammalian or other host cell lines using genome engineering approaches (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9)
• Support generation of target bait proteins and target-expressing cell lines for display campaigns and molecular interaction studies
• Support constructs and cell lines for structural biology workflows (crystallography, cryo-EM)
• Apply cell line engineering to in vitro pharmacology assays and binding studies

Skills

Vector design

Molecular cloning

Cell line engineering

Genome editing

Protein expression

CRISPR-Cas9

Lentiviral transduction

GPCRs handling

High-throughput workflows

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology/Cell Biology/Biochemistry or related field

Tools

Golden Gate

Gibson Assembly

CRISPR-Cas9 technologies

Job description

Does it excite you to build the molecular biology backbone that powers display technologies and structural biology, and do you have expertise in high-throughput vector design and cloning? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to enable discovery across multiple platforms, then you could be our new colleague.

Your new position

As a Scientist or Senior Scientist in Molecular Biology, you will play an important scientific role in our new Molecular Platform Development organization, driving high-throughput vector design and molecular cloning in support of biologics drug discovery. You will help build foundational molecular biology capabilities that enable display technologies, molecular interaction studies, and structural biology across the organization, at the inception of our new Cambridge, MA research center. This role suits a scientist with strong technical expertise in vector design, molecular cloning, and cell line engineering, scientific curiosity, and a desire to grow in scope and responsibility.

Exciting responsibilities

• Design and construct expression vectors at high throughput to support recombinant protein expression, engineered cell line generation, and target reagent production across discovery programs
• Generate constructs and reagents for challenging target classes, including GPCRs and other multi-pass transmembrane proteins, receptor-Fc fusions, and biotinylated bait antigens
• Engineer mammalian and/or other host cell lines using contemporary molecular biology and genome engineering approaches (e.g., lentiviral transduction, CRISPR-Cas9)
• Support generation of target bait proteins and/or target-expressing cell lines to enable yeast, phage, and mRNA display selection campaigns and molecular interaction studies
• Support generation of constructs and cell lines for structural biology workflows, including protein production for crystallography, cryo-EM, and related structural methods
• Apply cell line engineering expertise to support development of in vitro pharmacology assays, including reporter and target-expressing cell lines for functional and binding assays

Your profile

You bring strong technical expertise in vector design, molecular cloning, and cell line engineering, along with scientific curiosity and sound judgment. You thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and are motivated to help build foundational capabilities that enable multiple discovery platforms. You communicate scientific data and concepts clearly and work effectively across cross-functional project teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field preferred (postdoctoral training preferred); candidates with a BS/MS and significantly more relevant industry experience will also be considered 2+ years of relevant post-degree experience in vector design, molecular cloning, and cell line engineering (Scientist); 4+ years (Senior Scientist)
• Expertise in high-throughput vector design and molecular cloning workflows (e.g., Golden Gate, Gibson assembly) to support rapid construct generation
• Experience generating challenging target classes, such as GPCRs and other multi-pass transmembrane proteins, receptor-Fc fusions, and biotinylated bait antigens
• Experience with genome editing and engineering approaches (e.g., lentiviral transduction, CRISPR-Cas9) for generation of engineered and target-expressing cell lines
• Hands-on experience with cell culture and expression scaling (e.g., transient to stable systems, shake flask to bioreactor) is a plus

Your new team

You will join Molecular Platform Development, a new organization created to strengthen and advance diverse drug modality capabilities in metabolic disease, based at our new Cambridge, MA research center. The site is a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary discovery hub integrating computational research, chemistry, and biology, and is deeply connected to the Greater Boston life sciences ecosystem.

Let's bond and be bold

We have a unique culture, characterized by excellent teamwork and strong engagement across the organization. And we want you to help us strengthen this culture. Making bonds is at the core of everything we do. From discovering and developing the best new peptide drugs for patients, to engaging with our partners or connecting with each other. We bond through curiosity and playfulness as a team, allowing ourselves to challenge common thinking and drive future innovation. Join us and let's bond and be bold.

Salary Range

$125,000 - $170,000

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from all job applicants.

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health. Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data-driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health. To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma‑invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Learn more at www.zealandpharma.com.

Since our founding in 1998, Zealand Pharma has built a core expertise in the discovery, design, and development of therapeutic peptides. This expertise has led to an R&D pipeline of innovative investigational candidates designed to address a broad range of disease areas. We have four therapeutic focus areas: obesity, rare diseases, chronic inflammation, and type 1 diabetes. In obesity, our peptide capabilities place us in a unique position to address a vast global health challenge and positively impact hundreds of millions of lives. Within rare diseases, we have a long‑standing commitment to deliver new treatments to patients living with congenital hyperinsulinism and short bowel syndrome. For chronic inflammatory diseases, we are progressing peptide programs focused on high‑profile targets shown to be difficult to address with small molecules and antibodies. For type 1 diabetes, we aspire to change the management of this disease. Our strategy is to pursue global co‑development and commercialization partnerships that complement and extend our capabilities across the value chain to deliver new peptide therapies to people who need them.