Senior Scientist

Lever, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Korro Bio seeks an experienced Senior Scientist to lead our HTS-NGS team, supporting our oligonucleotide platform and portfolio projects in a hybrid leadership role.

This position requires deep expertise in high-throughput cell assays and NGS workflows, strong leadership, and collaboration with Chemistry, Data Science, and Biology teams. You will design and optimize end-to-end workflows, oversee automation, ensure data integrity, and drive timely milestones.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS with substantial industry experience in cell biology, genomics, or related field.
• Experience managing scientists to achieve research and operational goals.
• Hands-on expertise with cell culture in 96- and 384-well formats, including transfection.
• End-to-end NGS experience: amplicon-seq, RNA-seq, library prep, QC, sequencing runs.
• Experience with liquid handling automation and bench QC instruments.
• Strong written and verbal communication; collaboration across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team performing in vitro screening and NGS-based characterization of oligonucleotide therapeutics.
• Set priorities, coordinate workloads, ensure timely delivery against milestones.
• Design, develop, and optimize end-to-end molecular biology and NGS workflows (amplicon-seq, RNA-seq).
• Establish automated liquid handling workflows to maximize throughput and reproducibility.
• Oversee QC instrumentation usage and data integrity across the team (Qubit, TapeStation, Fragment Analyzer).
• Partner with Chemistry, Data Science, and Biology to align assay outputs with downstream needs; communicate results clearly.

Skills

Cell culture

NGS workflows

Amplicon-seq

RNA-seq

PCR/qPCR

Gel electrophoresis

Liquid handling

Benchling LIMS

Cross-functional leadership

Data integrity

Education

PhD (4+ years)

MS (12+ years)

Tools

Viaflo 96/384

HiRes/Certus Flex

Tempest

MiSeq

Benchling

Jira/Confluence

Qubit

TapeStation

Fragment Analyzer

Job description

Position Summary:

Korro Bio is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist to lead our HTS-NGS team in support of our oligonucleotide platform and portfolio projects. This is a hybrid leadership and hands-on role that requires a combination of scientific expertise, team management, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate brings deep technical knowledge in high-throughput cell assays and NGS workflows, along with leadership experience, to lead a key workflow in the identification of RNA editing therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of scientists performing in vitro biological screening and NGS-based characterization of oligonucleotide therapeutics.
• Set team priorities, coordinate workloads, and ensure timely, high-quality delivery against corporate milestones.
• Foster a collaborative, growth-oriented team culture with a focus on scientific rigor and operational excellence.

Assay Development & Optimization

• Design, develop, and optimize end-to-end molecular biology and NGS workflows, including amplicon-seq and RNA-seq.
• Establish and maintain robust high-throughput cell-based assay platforms in 96- and 384-well formats, including transfection protocols.
• Apply systematic troubleshooting approaches to resolve technical challenges and continuously improve assay performance.

Automation & Technology Integration

• Lead the design, troubleshooting, and qualification of automated liquid handling workflows to maximize throughput and reproducibility.
• Evaluate and implement new instrumentation and technologies to enhance the capabilities of the HTS-NGS platform, eventually developing a fully automated system.
• Oversee QC instrumentation usage and data integrity across the team (Qubit, TapeStation, Fragment Analyzer).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Chemistry, Data Science, and Biology teams to align assay outputs with downstream analytical needs and project objectives.
• Communicate results clearly and proactively to stakeholders across functions, including through written reports and presentations.

Operational & Data Management

• Champion LIMS adoption and data quality standards using Benchling.
• Utilize project management tools (e.g. Jira / Confluence) to track progress, manage timelines, and communicate status.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD with 4+ years, MS with 12+ years or equivalent industry experience in cell biology, molecular biology, genomics, or a related field.
• Prior experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical environment is required.
• Demonstrated track record of managing scientists to achieve research and operational goals.
• Hands-on expertise with cell culture in 96- and 384-well formats, including transfection methodologies.
• Comprehensive end-to-end NGS experience: amplicon-seq, RNA-seq, library preparation, QC, and sequencing run execution. Expertise with Illumina sequencing platforms preferred (MiSeq).
• Expertise in core molecular biology techniques: RNA/DNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, and gel electrophoresis.
• Experience with liquid handling automation systems, including Viaflo 96/384, HiRes/Certus Flex, and/or Tempest.
• LIMS experience, preferably with Benchling.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data quality and scientific reproducibility.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to distill complex technical information for diverse audiences.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a dynamic, cross-functional biotech environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with project management tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Familiarity with QC instrumentation: Qubit, TapeStation, and Fragment Analyzer.
• Experience with screening siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, or similar constructs a strong plus.

$160,000 - $180,000 a year