Scientist, Gene Editing, System Discovery

The Role:

As part of our vision, Moderna is committed to invest in R&D to further expand our impact on patients. We are building an independent research and business unit for genomic medicines, called Moderna Genomics (mGx) based in Technology Square, Cambridge, MA. mGx will be an innovation engine for the company focused on discovering and delivering the next generation of in vivo gene editing and no-nviral gene therapies. It is our intention to be an industry leader in genomic medicines.

mGx seeks a curious and innovation-driven Scientist to join our Gene Editing Innovation team and help lead efforts to invent, engineer and characterize novel gene editing systems. This is an opportunity to use synthetic biology and “outside of the box” thinking to create the next generation of in vivo gene editing therapeutics. The successful candidate will leverage his/her/their deep mechanistic expertise in gene editing to design and mechanistically evaluate the performance of novel systems for gene correction or gene insertion with RNA and/or DNA components in biochemical and cell-based assays. The Scientist will engineer and optimize novel systems in close collaboration with members of the broader mGx team. This role will have the opportunity to make an impact through the invention of new gene editing medicines that can be developed safely to benefit an increased number of patients and therapeutic indications. As an early member of mGx, the successful candidate will be a key player in shaping and building the team and culture for this new initiative. 

Here’s What You’ll Do:

• Invent and optimize novel enzymes that can achieve complex gene editing events in vivo

• Test and characterize chimeric enzymes using biochemical and cell-based assays

• Collaborate cross-functionally with the greater mGx team including protein engineers, cell biologists, DNA repair experts, computational biologists, and screening/automation engineers

• Leverage knowledge of gene editing technologies to contribute scientifically to mGx goals and strategy

• Clearly communicate conclusions to the broader scientific team

• Design and execute a research plan built on robust, well-controlled scientific experiments

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table:

• A Ph.D. in synthetic biology, biochemistry, molecular biology or related discipline

• Broad technical expertise in biochemical and molecular biology techniques

• Demonstrated experience in the design, execution, analysis and interpretation of in vitro and mammalian cell- based assays to assess gene editing events

• Experience in biochemical assays interrogating protein nucleic acid interactions

• Track record of scientific innovation and thinking outside-of-the-box

• Ability to communicate complex scientific issues in a logical and coherent manner

• Ability to work on multiple projects in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively in a cross-functional team

Moderna is pleased to provide you and your family with a comprehensive and innovative suite of benefits, including:

• Highly competitive and inclusive medical, dental and vision coverage options
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
• Lifestyle Spending Account funds to help you engage in personal enrichment and self-care activities
• Family care benefits, including subsidized back-up care options and on-demand tutoring
• Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes 
• Exclusive preferred pricing on Peloton fitness equipment
• Adoption and family-planning benefits
• Dedicated care coordination support for our LGBTQ community
• Generous paid time off, including:
  •    Vacation, sick time and holidays
  •    Volunteer time to participate within your community
  •    Discretionary year-end shutdown
  •    Paid sabbatical after 5 years; every 3 years thereafter
• Generous Paid Leave offerings, including 18 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for all new parents
• 401k match and Financial Planning tools
• Moderna-paid Life, LTD and STD insurance coverages, as well as voluntary benefit options
• Complimentary concierge service including home services research, travel booking, and entertainment requests
• Free parking or subsidized commuter passes
• Location-specific perks and extras!

Candidates should be aware that Moderna currently maintains a policy requiring all US-based employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive a booster shot once eligible. Newly hired employees must be vaccinated and boosted prior to their employment start date. Moderna is an equal opportunity employer and will provide a reasonable accommodation to those unable to be vaccinated or receive a booster where it is not an undue hardship to the company to do so as provided under federal, state, and local law.

About Moderna

In over 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across seven modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for rapid clinical and commercial production at scale. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna's capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use and approval of one of the earliest and most effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moderna's mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past seven years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free work environment.

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person’s race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

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