Scientist, Virology, Infectious Diseases Research

The Role:

The Virology group in Infectious Diseases Research at Moderna is seeking a talented and motivated Scientist with experience in the fields of virology, molecular biology, biochemistry and infectious disease assays. The Scientist will be part of teams responsible for advancing vaccine candidates from discovery through IND-enabling studies and clinical trials. The Scientist will identify vaccine targets and design studies to assess vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in preclinical animal models. This work will include developing novel assays to evaluate efficacy, immune responses, host-pathogen interactions, and protein characterization. In addition, the candidate will help to identify, develop, and use novel screens to identify vaccine approaches that work best for targets of interest. She/he/they will interface with collaborators and present results both internally and externally. The ability to effectively communicate across internal multi-disciplinary teams and with external partners is required. Applicants should be outstanding scientists, collaborative team members, excellent communicators, and excited to work with cutting-edge mRNA technology in the advancement of viral vaccines.

Here's What Youll Do:

• Maintain and qualify reagents, including relevant virus and cell stocks

• Design and execute experiments to characterize antigens encoded by mRNA vaccine candidates

• Run standard infection assays, including virus quantification and neutralization assays

• Design and conduct assays to determine antiviral activity in vitro and/or in vivo elicited by various vaccine candidates

• Review literature for relevant approaches and for new technology with application to infectious disease research

• Interpret and summarize experimental data

• Present experimental results at group meetings, project meetings, and department meetings

• Manage multiple experiments, projects, and interactions with supporting functions simultaneously

• Assist in the identification of new targets for vaccine intervention and/or identification of novel approaches that utilize the mRNA platform in the development of new or better vaccines

Heres What Youll Bring to the Table:

• PhD with expertise in virology or related field is required. Knowledge of immunology and host-pathogen interactions will be a plus

• 0-2 years of postdoctoral work or independent research experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry

• Strong level of understanding and expertise in design and execution of molecular virology studies and assays, such as viral culture, quantification, infectivity assays, and neutralization assays.

• Expertise in cellular and molecular biology assays, e.g. cell culture, transfections, transductions, qPCR, and western blots (additional experience in flow cytometry, ELISA, and Luminex valued)

• Demonstrated ability to design, troubleshoot, and execute new experimental approaches, manage data, and work independently

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence and collaborate in a team environment

• Publication of original scientific work in high-quality journals in the field of virology, vaccinology, or infectious diseases

• Desire to work in a cross-functional, collaborative work environment is critical

• Candidate will be curious in exploring new path for drug discovery, will collaborate with multifunctional teams, will be bold in proposing creative experimental designs and ideas, and will be relentless in pursuing successful outcomes

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 persons 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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