Scientist, Cancer Vaccines Research

The Role:
Moderna is dedicated to maximizing the impact of our cancer vaccine platform on human health. We are seeking talented and motivated Scientists with experience in immuno-oncology research to support advancement of current and new cancer vaccine programs. The successful candidate will support preclinical research efforts to advance next generation cancer vaccines and concepts, as well as support clinical stage programs. Scientists will have the opportunity to progress our Personalized Cancer Vaccine (PCV), Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine (TCV; encoding antigens common in broad patient populations) and/or Cancer Vaccine Platform Research initiatives. Research areas of interest include immune-oncology, vaccinology, immunology, cancer biology and dendritic and T cell biology. This role requires scientific rigor, critical thinking, flexibility, multitasking, technical expertise and the ability to bring new impactful techniques and ideas to advance our mission . Applicants should be highly collaborative team players, excellent communicators and have a demonstrable track record of independent research accomplishments, ideally linked to positively impacting human health.
Here’s What You’ll Do:
Help identify and prioritize new target antigens and vaccine concepts to advance into discovery and through preclinical development
Develop, optimize and validate cell-based assays to evaluate various mRNA vaccines/therapeutics
Help provide justification for rational vaccine combinations with mRNA-based approaches as well as with standards of care and other emerging therapies primarily through generation of appropriate preclinical data
Evaluate potential changes considered for our cancer vaccine platform including advancements in vaccine manufacturing, format and antigen choice
Work on new approaches to optimize the generation of our vaccines, from antigen selection and sample collection to profiling of unique muteomes
Generate data and provide justification for optimized dose, schedule, and treatment sequencing
Analyze human and murine immune cells and responses, including co-culture assays of dendritic and T cells, via flow cytometry, ELISpot, and ELISA; assist new assay development and technological advancements to query vaccine function and effectiveness
Collect, archive, organize and analyze samples, including those from in vivo studies
Deliver reproducible and impactful results under ambitious timelines
Execute and troubleshoot standard protocols, adapt new protocols into practice with little assistance, and query literature to implement new assays as needed
Independently plan experiments
Analyze, interpret and present data
Faithfully document scientific work
Contribute to reports, regulatory submissions and presentations
Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table:
Ph.D. in a biological science or M.S. with extensive relevant experience
Solid background in immune-oncology, vaccinology and/or immunology strongly desired
Demonstrated ability to design and execute experimental plans
Experience/expertise in multiple of the following:
multi-parameter flow cytometry
cell-based assays (e.g. co-culture functional assays, multicolor flow cytometry, live cell imaging, ELISA, cell sorting, etc.)
phenotyping murine, NHP and human immune cells
executing primary immune cell assays and mechanism of action studies
biodistribution, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic analysis using biochemical and flow cytometry assays
Nucleic acid quantification:
Isolation of nucleic acids from cultured cells and harvested tissue
Quantification via qPCR, other formats such as bDNA-based approaches
Protein quantification:
Isolation of protein lysates from cultured cells and harvested tissue
Protein quantification via Western, ELISA, MSD, Luminex-based assays
Tissue/cell culture:
Cell passaging, archiving, transfection and cell-based functional assays
Primary cell isolation and culture, particularly with hematopoietic cells
Capability to anticipate and recognize potential issues within experimental designs and effectively communicate alternatives
Ability to support multiple projects, prioritize work and meet tight deadlines
C andidate will embrace our core values. You will be curious in exploring new paths for drug discovery, bold in proposing creative experimental designs and ideas. Will work collaboratively with multifunctional teams and will be relentless in pursuing successful outcomes that will expand the impact of our cancer vaccines on patients.
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
• Paid sabbatical after 5 years; every 3 years thereafter
• D iscretionary year-end shutdown

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. #LI-MBB1
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