Fellow, LNP Process Development

The Role:
Moderna is seeking a thought leader in mRNA delivery and process science, with a focus towards lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations and their pharmacological behaviors.  The incumbent will leverage fundamental scientific and engineering principles to characterize our LNP formulations in support of the broader portfolio of medicines. Together with biological science and pharmacology partners, the applicant will lead the design and execution of experiments to identify the impact of LNP physicochemical properties and property variation on in vivo performance. In a cross-disciplinary and collaborative team, the candidate will focus on developing a deep understanding of LNP behaviors at the biological interface and elucidate mechanistic models. Projects will encompass several routes of administration and disease areas for the LNP delivery vehicle.

The candidate must be skilled in RNA delivery science, nanoparticle synthesis and characterization tools, general principles of nanoparticle pharmacology/toxicology, and multivariate experimental design. The candidate will interact with platform research, preclinical production, analytical development, external academic partners, and consulting organizations. The candidate will have a proven track record of multidisciplinary team leadership and direct management of research projects including a strong scientific publication and intellectual property history. 

Here’s What You’ll Do:

• Lead experimental efforts to advance our understanding of mRNA LNP properties and impact on pharmacology in a diverse range of biological applications.

• Establish a research plan and allocate resources to support scientific project and long-term goals.

• Identify and evaluate opportunities for process innovation and improvement.

• Serve as a technical mentor and research advisor for formulations and process scientists.

• Analyze, interpret, and document experimental data and communicate outcomes to the Technical Development team and stakeholders. 

• Collect and share relevant academic literature, leverage external consultants/SMEs, and establish new collaborations with internal groups.

• Author both internally facing technical documents and external publications of findings. 

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

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD + 10 years in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry/Biophysics, Pharmaceutical Science or a related field within delivery science.

• Track record of exploring complex nanoparticle delivery systems, including their design, synthesis, and elucidation of biological response.

• Experience with multivariate experimental design and statistical modeling.

• Experience in building research teams, executing informative experiments, and publication of outcomes within the delivery science and physical chemistry fields.

• Track record of collaboration with advanced nanoparticle characterization teams and exploring in vitro/in vivo predictive tools.

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of interdisciplinary product development teams.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrates curiosity and creativity in exploring and challenging new hypotheses.

Preferred Qualifications

• Innovative scientist with ability to think critically and solve problems in laboratory and manufacturing settings. A team builder and thought leader within mRNA LNP formulation science.

• Significant experience with the design and characterization of complex delivery vehicles, including LNPs or related structures and the assessment of pharmacological behaviors.

• Experience with biotechnology unit operations related to drug product manufacture for nanoparticle drug products.

• Experience linking raw material attributes, formulation and process parameters to product Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) through designed experiments

• Understanding of cGMP, ICH and regulatory guidelines as they relate to risk management and pharmaceutical development

Competencies

• Innovative and passionate about science

• Collaborative

• Ability to execute in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment

• Ability to manage a portfolio of projects and drive to results

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 winter shut down 
  •    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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