(Senior) Scientist, mRNA Display

Work In Biotech; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Work In Biotech in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Scientist or Senior Scientist to lead mRNA display campaigns for peptide discovery. You will design libraries, analyze NGS data, and collaborate with chemists and biologists to optimize ligands for targeted RNA delivery.

The final title will reflect experience and scope. The role is full-time, laboratory-based in Cambridge, with on-site work and opportunities to mentor junior scientists while shaping platform improvements for delivery beyond the

Qualifications

• PhD in chemical biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, or a related field.
• Over three years of direct hands-on experience with mRNA display or related cell-free display tech.
• Experience with peptide-library construction, in vitro selection, and Next-Generation Sequencing.
• Ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot complex workflows.
• Strong scientific judgment and cross-disciplinary communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute end-to-end mRNA display campaigns for peptide discovery.
• Develop peptide libraries with diverse sequences and noncanonical amino acids.
• Analyze sequencing data to identify enriched motifs and SARs.
• Collaborate with chemistry and biology teams to validate hits.
• Improve platform throughput, automation, and data quality.
• Senior Scientist scope: lead multiple programs and mentor junior scientists.

Skills

mRNA display

peptide discovery

NGS data analysis

experimental workflows

cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in chemical biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, or a related field

Job description

Work in Biotech is supporting the hiring for a Stealth NewCo, who is developing next-generation delivery platforms for targeted RNA medicines. We integrate ligand discovery, peptide and oligonucleotide chemistry, receptor biology, high-throughput screening, computational science, and in vivo validation to enable delivery beyond the liver.

Stealth NewCo is seeking a highly motivated and hands-on Scientist or Senior Scientist to lead mRNA display campaigns for peptide discovery. The successful candidate will design peptide-library selections, analyze sequencing data, prioritize hits, and collaborate with chemists and biologists to validate and optimize ligands for targeted RNA delivery. The final title will be based on the past scientific and industry experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and execute end-to-end mRNA display campaigns for peptide discovery.
• Develop peptide libraries incorporating diverse sequences, cyclization strategies, and noncanonical amino acids.
• Analyze NGS data to identify enriched peptide families, motifs, and sequence-activity relationships.
• Collaborate with Discovery Chemistry and Biology teams to validate the hits and iterate on library design and screening workflows.
• Improve platform robustness, throughput, automation, and data quality, and communicate findings clearly to project teams.
• Senior Scientist scope: lead across multiple programs, mentor junior scientists, and contribute to broader high throughput-discovery decisions.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• PhD in chemical biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, or a related field.
• Over three years of direct hands-on experience with mRNA display or a closely related cell-free display technology.
• Experience with peptide-library construction, in vitro selection, and next-generation sequencing.
• Ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot complex experimental workflows.
• Strong scientific judgment, communication skills, and ability to work effectively across disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with genetic-code reprogramming, noncanonical amino acids, or translation-compatible peptide cyclization.
• Experience selecting ligands against membrane proteins or cell-surface receptors.
• Familiarity with cyclic peptide synthesis, binding assays, receptor internalization, automation, or targeted drug delivery.
• Experience working in an early-stage biotechnology environment.

Who You Are

You are a creative and rigorous scientist who enjoys building new technologies, solving challenging experimental problems, and collaborating across chemistry, biology, and computational disciplines.

Work Location

This is a full-time, laboratory-based position in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Regular on-site work is required.