Senior Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology

Unither Pharmaceuticals; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

United Therapeutics in Cambridge, MA seeks a Senior Scientist to lead preclinical research for iPSC-derived thymic cell therapies. You will design in vivo studies, refine disease models, and investigate thymic regeneration and T-cell biology to support IND-enabling work.

You will collaborate across R&D teams to generate robust data packages, mentor staff, and communicate findings to leadership. This onsite role offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD in immunology, stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in preclinical models including in vivo mouse studies.
• Strong knowledge of immunology, thymus biology, T-cell development, immune reconstitution.
• Ability to independently drive scientific projects from conceptualization to data interpretation and presentation.
• Rodent handling and multiple administration routes (IV, IP, SQ).
• Experience with immunological assays such as mixed lymphocyte reaction, T-cell activation and cytotoxicity.
• Multicolor flow cytometry, qPCR or ddPCR, histology, ELISA/MSD.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to work in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret in vivo studies to assess efficacy, safety, pharmacology, biodistribution, persistence, and mechanism of action of iPSC-derived thymic cell products.
• Develop and refine preclinical mouse models relevant to immune reconstitution, aging, and immune tolerance.
• Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms driving thymic regeneration, T-cell development, and immune tolerance.
• Design and implement immune profiling approaches, including flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, and functional immunological assays; develop biomarker strategies.
• Collaborate with iPSC Research, Process Development, Analytical Development to evaluate product attributes.
• Generate robust data packages to support candidate selection and nonclinical development.

Skills

In vivo studies

Flow cytometry

Immunology expertise

T-cell biology

Biomarker strategies

RNA-seq

Education

PhD in immunology or related

Tools

ELISA/MSD

qPCR / ddPCR

Job description

California, US residents click here.

The job details are as follows:

Who We Are

We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation. Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs.

United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR ) seeks to travel down the corridors of indifference to develop treatments for rare, deadly diseases. We were founded in 1996 by a family seeking a cure for their daughter’s pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH ). Today, we have six FDA-approved therapies that treat PAH, pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease ( PH-ILD ) and neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer. Our near-term pipeline seeks to develop additional therapies for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis ( PF ).

The cure for end-stage life-threatening diseases like PAH, PH-ILD, PF, and many others is an organ transplant, but only a small percentage of donated organs are available to address the vast need. For this reason, we are working to create manufactured organs to address the shortage of kidneys, hearts, lungs, and livers available for transplant. We believe an unlimited supply of tolerable, transplantable organs will eliminate the transplant waiting list and cure end-stage organ diseases for which transplant is not currently an option.

Thymmune Therapeutics, a United Therapeutics subsidiary is a biotechnology company developing a machine learning-driven thymic cell engineering platform to restore normal immune function in aging and disease. The company’s cutting-edge approach in iPSC-thymic cell manufacturing can generate off-the-shelf cells at scale. The company is developing a pipeline of therapies to treat immunodeficiencies, transplant-related, and autoimmune disorders.

Who you are

For scientists who prefer the frontier over the familiar. Join Thymmune and help pioneer next-generation cell therapies designed to restore and strengthen the immune system. You’ll lead high-impact preclinical research, mentor fellow scientists, and contribute to breakthrough programs spanning aging, immune dysfunction, cancer, and transplantation. If you’re excited by the possibility of translating bold scientific ideas into life-changing therapies, we’d love to hear from you.

The Senior Scientist is responsible for advancing our lead cell therapy program through the design and execution of proof-of-concept, pharmacology, and mechanism-of-action studies in relevant animal models. Leveraging deep expertise in preclinical models and immunology, this role supports key development activities and contributes to the expansion of our therapeutic platform into new disease areas, including immunosenescence, aging, cancer immunotherapy, and transplant tolerance. The Senior Scientist plays an important role in shaping the scientific strategy for next-generation iPSC-derived thymic cell therapies across multiple indications and works closely with Research, Process Development, and Regulatory teams to generate high-quality data that inform development decisions and support IND-enabling studies.

• Design, execute, and interpret in vivo studies to assess the efficacy, safety, pharmacology, biodistribution, persistence, and mechanism of action of iPSC-derived thymic cell products. Apply core in vivo techniques, including animal handling, cell dosing, tissue collection and dissection, to support downstream analyses
• Develop and refine preclinical mouse models relevant to immune reconstitution, immunosenescence, aging, and immune tolerance to enhance translational relevance and experimental robustness
• Investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive thymic regeneration, T-cell development, immune tolerance, and immunosenescence using appropriate experimental techniques
• Design and implement high-dimensional immune profiling approaches, including flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, and functional immunological assays (e.g., T-cell activation, cytotoxicity, and mixed lymphocyte reaction assays); and develop biomarker strategies that support translational research objectives
• Work closely and collaboratively with iPSC Research, Process Development, Analytical Development, to evaluate product attributes associated with potency, efficacy and safety
• Generate robust data packages on proof-of-concept, pharmacology, and mechanism-of-action studies, to support candidate selection and advance program toward nonclinical development
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate study results to stakeholders, project teams and senior leadership
• Maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized documentation of experimental design, protocols, data analysis, study reports, and ensure data integrity to support project decision-making and regulatory-supporting activities.
• Assess emerging scientific literature and competitive landscape development, contribute to the evaluation of new therapeutic opportunities beyond congenital athymia
• Mentor junior team members, scientists, interns to foster a scientific rigorous, collaborative, and productive work environment
• All other duties as required

Minimum Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in immunology, stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, or a related discipline
• 5+ of experience developing preclinical models, including the design and execution of in vivo mouse studies; hands‑on expertise in immunological assay development; and a demonstrated ability to independently advance scientific projects
• Strong scientific knowledge of Immunology, thymus biology, T-cell development, immune reconstitution, and immune tolerance
• Proven skills to independently drive scientific projects from conceptualization, experimental design, study execution, data analysis, interpretation and presentation
• Demonstrated proficiency in rodent handling, tissue collection/dissection, and multiple routes of administration, including but not limited to IV, IP, SQ et al.
• Hands‑on in vitro experience with the isolation, processing, and culture of primary human and murine cells and tissues, and experience in development of immunological assays, such as mixed lymphocyte’s reaction, T cells activation and cell cytotoxicity assays
• Multi-color flow Cytometry, qPCR or ddPCR, histology, ELISA/MSD techniques. Demonstrated ability to analyze data, apply appropriate statistical methods, and independently troubleshoot experimental variability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, collaborative biotech environment

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ Nonclinical development activities, IND-enabling studies, and regulatory authoring, such as experience in Proof-of-Concept studies, Pharmacology, Mechanism-of-Action studies, and translational sciences
• Scientific understanding of immunosenescence, age‑related immune dysfunction, tumor immunology, autoimmunity and transplantation immunology/ tolerance
• Track record of scientific publications and/or intellectual property contributions

This role is based in our Cambridge, MA Thymmune location fully onsite with occasional weekend work needed.

The salary range for this position is $127,500.00 - $170,000.00 and reflects our good‑faith estimate of the compensation for this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business needs, as well as other factors permitted by law at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future based on company and market factors.

At United Therapeutics, our mission and vision are one. We use our enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence to innovate for the unmet medical needs of our patients and to benefit our other stakeholders. We are bold and unconventional. We have fun, we do good.

Eligible employees may participate in the Company’s comprehensive benefits suite of programs, including medical / dental / vision / prescription coverage, employee wellness resources, savings plans (401k and ESPP), paid time off & paid parental leave benefits, disability benefits, and more. For additional information on Company benefits, please visit https://www.unither.com/careers/benefits-and-amenities

United Therapeutics Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.