Senior Research Associate/ Associate Scientist– Crispr Gene Editing And Disease Modeling

About Alltrna

Alltrna is the world’s first tRNA platform company to decipher tRNA biology and pioneer tRNA therapeutics to treat thousands of diseases. Alltrna unlocks tRNA biology to correct disease. The company's platform incorporates AI/ML tools to learn the tRNA language and deliver diverse programmable molecules with broad therapeutic potential. Alltrna has an unprecedented opportunity to advance a single tRNA medicine to unify treatment across a wide range of diseases with the same underlying genetic mutation. Alltrna was founded in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering. For more info, visit www.alltrna.com.

About The Role

Alltrna is seeking a highly motivated and talented Principal/Senior Research Associate to join our growing Cell & Organismal Biology Group. The successful candidate will be a key player to expand Alltrna’s disease modeling platform, by generation and evaluation of clonal CRISPR/Cas9-edited cell lines, differentiation, and disease phenotyping. The candidate will work with multifunctional groups to make research plans, design, and perform experiments to evaluate technologies. He/she should be a strong team player, clear communicator, enjoy scientific discovery and work effectively in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment.

Core Responsibilities

• Perform assay optimization, qualification, validation, and cellular PK/PD studies in disease-relevant cells
• Engineering mammalian and pluripotent stem cells for disease reporter assays and disease modeling by gene manipulation via various technologies such as CRISPR, AAV, and lentivirus
• Design, execute, interpret experimental data, and establish workflows of preclinical in vitro and ex vivo experiments to support both mechanism of action studies and clinical translation of portfolio projects for tRNA therapeutic development
• Design and production of cell engineering tools such as DNA constructs, gRNAs (CRISPR), and lentiviruses, etc.

Qualifications And Skills

BS or MS in biology, cell biology, molecular biology, or a related discipline with 3-6+ years for MS and 5-8+ years for BA of experience in Biotech or pharmaceutical company

• Extensive experience in mammalian cell culture, including primary cells (e.g., patient fibroblasts and primary hepatocytes) and cell line characterization (growth curve, kill curve, clonal expansion, mycoplasma test, etc.) Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques (plasmid construction, cloning, and sequence analysis) and stable cell line generation required
• Proven hands-on experience with a variety cell-based and molecular biology techniques, such as FACS, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, ELISA, MSD, immunostaining, high-content and confocal imaging

Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic environment as a team player with a strong work ethic, excellent communication, and time management skills

• Foster a collaborative, creative, and rigorous culture of scientific discovery

The preferred candidate will ideally also possess the following skills:

• Good understanding of on-target/off-target analysis of CRISPR editing and experience with NGS library preparation

What We’ll Offer You

• A dynamic early-stage work environment and highly interdisciplinary, talented, and collaborative team.
• Participation in an unprecedented opportunity to advance a single tRNA medicine to restore disrupted protein production, regardless of target, for thousands of diseases with the same underlying genetic mutation.
• Professional growth opportunities through mentoring, training, immersion in cross-functional projects, and opportunities to learn and try new things.
• Comprehensive, competitive healthcare and dental coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, vision coverage through VSP, family leave, paid time off, 401k retirement plan, disability and life insurance, and fully covered parking/commuter benefits.
• Be part of the team that writes the playbook for developing tRNA molecules and you will be critical not only in ensuring that we can understand how our formulations perform in living systems but also in defining how we manufacture for our clinical programs.

Our Core Values

• COURAGE PROPELS US FORWARD. We take thoughtful risks without fear of failure, growing with each experience.
• PATIENTS DESERVE BETTER. We are transforming medicine, boldly building a new future for patients.
• CURIOSITY SPARKS DISCOVERY. We ardently explore the unknown, catalyzing new scientific breakthroughs.
• WE ARE ONE TEAM. We are united on trust and collaboration, embracing all voices and experiences.
• OUR PURPOSE FUELS US. We each lead and work with focus and passion to design groundbreaking tRNA medicines.

WE GIVE IT OUR ALL, EVERYDAY, FOR PATIENTS EVERYWHERE. WE ARE ALLTRNA.

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.

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 thereto.