Senior Scientist, Discovery Science

Flagship Pioneering; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free snacks

Community lunchroom

Collaborative team environment

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering is seeking a Senior Scientist to join its Discovery Biology team in Cambridge, MA. You will apply biochemistry, assay development, and tissue processing to advance oligonucleotide therapies, collaborating with in vivo pharmacology, NGS, and bioinformatics groups.

Management of CROs and cross-functional teamwork are essential. Ideal candidates hold a PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field with 3+ years in discovery research, and demonstrated ability to

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, drug discovery, or related field with 3+ years of industry experience in discovery research.
• Hands-on experience designing and interpreting complex in vitro/ex vivo workflows, including sample processing and assay development.
• Good understanding of in vivo experiments for drug discovery and development in mouse models.
• Familiarity with high-dimensional readouts such as NGS and proteomics.
• Hands-on experience with standard biochemical techniques and ability to troubleshoot complex workflows.
• Track record of working in multidisciplinary teams including biochemists, in vivo biologists, and bioinformaticians.
• Motivated team-player with strong organizational and written/verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive translational platform innovation aligned with core strategic goals, focusing on biochemical assay development and tissue processing.
• Generate and develop enhanced oligonucleotides in different biological settings against diverse drug targets.
• Support the design of in vivo experiments based on protocols developed in vitro.
• Collaborate with biochemists, in vivo biologists, NGS scientists, and bioinformatics teams.
• Work with CROs conducting in vitro/in vivo experiments to identify new drug molecules.
• Generate rapid, accurate data to drive decision-making for platform and pipeline programs.
• Establish and refine workflows, SOPs, and documentation for experiments at scale.
• Clearly communicate experimental design, results, challenges, and next steps in meetings and with collaborators.

Skills

Molecular biology

Biochemistry

Assay development

In vitro workflows

In vivo mouse models

NGS

Proteomics

CRO management

Team collaboration

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, drug discovery

Job description

What if… you could join an organization that creates, resources, and builds life sciences companies that invent breakthrough technologies in order to transform health care and sustainability?

FL125 is a cutting-edge biotechnology platform company developing oligonucleotide therapies enabling superior solutions for therapeutic, diagnostics and tool development. This is a unique opportunity to be one of the first employees of a biotech startup that combines an innovative, and disruptive mindset with the resources and know-how of Flagship Pioneering.

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated and highly collaborative Senior Scientist to join our Discovery Biology team. The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of biochemistry, assay development, and tissue sample processing, with a strong track record of collaborating with in‑vivo pharmacologists / in‑vivo biologists, NGS scientists, and bioinformatics teams. The role also involves management of contract research organizations (CROs). The ideal candidate will be highly adaptable, have strong organizational and communication skills, and will thrive in a highly collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive translational platform innovation aligned with FL125’s core strategic goals, with a focus on biochemical assay development, analysis of oligonucleotides in complex mixtures, and tissue processing.
• Generate and develop enhanced oligonucleotides in different biological settings and against a broad set of drug targets.
• Support the design of in vivo experiments based on protocols developed in‑vitro
• Work in close collaboration with biochemists, in‑vivo biologists, NGS scientists, and bioinformatics teams.
• Work closely with CROs conducting in‑vitro / in‑vivo experiments to identify new drug molecules
• Generate rapid and accurate turnaround of high‑quality experimental data to drive decision‑making for platform and pipeline programs.
• Establish and refine workflows, SOPs, and documentation practices for experimental processes at scale.
• Clearly communicate experimental design, results, challenges, and next steps in internal meetings and with external collaborators.

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, drug discovery, or a related field, with 3+ years of industry experience in discovery research. Postdoctoral experience may also be acceptable depending on research focus.
• Hands‑on experience designing and interpreting complex in vitro and ex vivo experimental workflows, including sample processing and assay development.
• Good understanding of in vivo experiments for drug discovery and development in mouse models.
• Some familiarity with high‑dimensional readouts such as NGS and proteomics.
• Hands‑on experience with standard biochemical techniques and an ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex experimental workflows.
• Track record of working in multidisciplinary teams, including biochemists, in vivo biologists, and bioinformaticians.
• Motivated team‑player and independent force‑of‑nature with strong organizational and written/verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with oligonucleotides.
• Experience designing and executing mouse model experiments.
• Experience working with contract research organizations (CROs).

What we can offer you

• Opportunity to lay the scientific foundation of a transformative platform company as an early employee.
• A custom‑tailored role to maximize impactful contributions, professional growth, and scientific interests.
• Tightly knit team, social activities and community lunchroom with free snacks, and a vibrant community of scientists and entrepreneurs.

About Flagship

Flagship Pioneering is a bioplatform innovation company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in generation of over 500 patents, initiation of over 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents and an aggregate value of more than $90 billion. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

Flagship Pioneering is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

At Flagship, we recognize there is no perfect candidate. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. Experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your unique background.

The salary range for this role is $126,000 - $181,500. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. FL125 currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on FL125’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.