Senior Research Associate, Discovery Biology

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?

FL94 Inc., is a privately held, early-stage biotechnology company pioneering the emerging field of Protein Editing. At FL94 we create small molecules that edit protein structure and function to unlock presently undruggable targets and a broad array of therapeutic modalities. Our platform integrates novel small molecule chemistry and chemoproteomic discovery technologies with Machine Learning (ML) to enable generative design. FL94 is backed by Flagship Pioneering, bringing their courage, vision, and resources to guide FL94 from platform validation to patient impact. We are seeking collaborative, relentless problem solvers that share our passion for impact to join us! 

Position Summary:

FL94 is seeking an experienced, adaptable, and creative Sr Research Associate, Discovery Biology to join our research team. You will be part of the Immunology group responsible for leveraging our novel platform to develop first-in-class medicines and new chemical modalities for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The ideal candidate brings expertise in designing high-throughput assays, primary immune functional assay, molecular biology techniques, and some in vivo experience with a passion for discovery and development of small molecule drugs. A background in industrial drug discovery and immunology is preferred.

Successful candidates will be able to thrive in a fast-paced, action-oriented, team environment and lead from the bench.

What You'Ll Do

• Develop appropriate in vitro cellular assays to screen small molecules.
• Develop and execute functional assays with primary murine or human immune cells to support mechanism of action studies, characterize on-target and off-target pathway modulation. 
• Design and perform immune functional and phenotypic assays, such as cytokine quantification, proliferation assays, and intracellular flow cytometry.
• Manage execution of in vivo studies in collaboration with an external CRO
• Analyze data and prepare presentations for discussion at team meetings
• Review targets identified by our platform for potential as therapeutic targets.
• Build a robust infrastructure of laboratory protocols, tools, and systems that will scale efficiently.
• Work collaboratively in cross-functional teams with chemistry, proteomics, drug discovery and AI/machine learning
• Ensure rapid and accurate turnaround of data, to agreed timelines, to drive achievement of key project goals.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree with 4+ years of working experience in molecular biology, cellular biology, immunology, or related fields.
• Sound knowledge of disciplines involved in drug discovery (cell-based disease models, target engagement and target modulation assays, cell viability assays, biomarker discovery, PD/PK and efficacy studies)
• Comfort in independently executing immune phenotypic and functional assays, such as multicolor flow cytometry, proliferation assays, and cytokine detection.
• Expertise in molecular biology techniques- WB, RT-qPCR, FACS, cloning, cell culture, gene KO/KI using CRISPR/CAS9, siRNA and/or shRNA, over-expression using Lenti viral transduction.
• Some in vivo experience with dosing and autoimmune disease models preferred.
• Desire to work within highly skilled teams in a fast-paced, quickly evolving technical environment.
• Competency in using data processing software (Graph Pad Prism, Spotfire, Dotmatics, etc).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of conveying scientific information in a concise and effective manner.

Location: Cambridge, MA

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 more than $90 billion in aggregate value. 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 and our ecosystem companies are 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.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies*: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect there to.*