Sr. Scientist, Process Development

The Role:
Moderna is working to develop first-in-class messenger RNA (mRNA) based medicines. Our DNA and Enzymes Process Development team is driving the design, development and implementation of processes for DNA and Enzymes utilized in the production of RNA. We are a fast-growing team within Moderna and are looking for innovative, curious and collaborative bioprocess researchers to join us.

This role, based at the Norwood, MA site, will develop, scale-up, and transfer new and improved purification processes for DNA and enzymes to enable our clinical supply and late stage / commercial development and will be expected to lead other development scientists / engineers in defining process development strategy, designing experiments, establishing critical process parameters, and implementing process control strategies.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in large-molecule process development using standard bioprocess unit operations (e.g. reactions, selective precipitation, chromatography, tangential flow and/or normal filtration), and will be able to contribute to both process development and commercialization related activities. These skills should be complemented with a track record of effective troubleshooting, time management, strong communication and collaboration skills, and examples of leadership in process development.

This role will collaborate closely with Moderna’s core platform research, process development, analytical development, process automation, manufacturing and quality teams to adapt existing technologies or develop new technologies and transfer for clinical / commercial DNA and enzyme manufacturing.

Do you feel energized by working in a fast-paced and highly dynamic environment? Do you have firsthand experience in large molecule bioprocessing? Are you curious about cutting-edge digital biotech and next generation bioprocess development? Then join us in creating a new generation of transformative medicines for patients!

Here’s What You Will Do:

  • Define process development strategy, goals, and specific plans for DNA and enzyme production.
  • Create scaled-down, high throughput and automated experimental setups.
  • Compile experimental and analytical results, perform data interpretation, summarize, and report on data with conclusions and recommended next steps.
  • Prepare process descriptions, technical reports, communicate findings internally and externally, and present in cross-functional meetings
  • Collaborate with manufacturing, MS&T, and quality groups, as well as with development and operations teams for coordinated development and transfer efforts.
  • Maintain thorough electronic lab notebooks and documentation records.

Here’s What You Will Bring to the Table:

  • Ph.D or M.S. in Bio/Chemical Engineering, Bio/Chemistry, Manufacturing Sciences or closely related field.
  • 2-5 years of experience (PhD) or 8-10 years of experience (MS) in an industrial setting.
  • Hands-on experience with chromatography, ultrafiltration, normal flow filtration, and development of innovative unit operations.
  • Knowledge of process scale-up, scale-down model development, and process characterization.
  • Experience in large molecule/nucleic acid purification process development is a plus.
  • Working knowledge of statistical design of experiments (DoE) and analysis of multivariate data.
  • Outstanding communication skills (verbal and written).
  • Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and experience managing direct reports.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic, cross-functional matrixed environment.

Here’s What We’ll Bring to the Table:

  • On-site subsidized cafeteria or catered lunches
  • Company-provided iPhone
  • Free parking, monthly subway pass or a subsidized commuter rail pass
  • Free annual corporate membership to Bluebikes
  • Highly competitive healthcare coverage including: medical offered through BCBS (HMO/PPO), dental, and vision offered through VSP
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
  • 16 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for all new parents
  • 16 weeks 100% paid family caregiver leave
  • 20 weeks 100% paid medical leave
  • Eligible for “Moderna Month” (one month paid sabbatical after five years of service and eligible for additional one month paid sabbatical every 3 years thereafter)
  • Adoption assistance and discounts to local childcare centers, as well as access to care.com
  • 401k (traditional and Roth offered) with 50% match on first 6% deferred. Match is vested immediately
  • A suite of Moderna paid insurance coverage, including: life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
  • Voluntary legal assistance plan
  • 15 days’ vacation and 7 sick days per year, in addition to a discretionary winter shut down and 11 company paid holidays (includes 2 floating holidays)

About Moderna:

In 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a science research-stage company advancing programs in the promising-but-still-unproven field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with its first medicine having treated millions of people, a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across six modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production at scale and at unprecedented speed. 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 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 auto-immune diseases. Today, 24 development programs are underway across these therapeutic areas, with 13 programs having entered the clinic. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past six 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-CM1

https://modernatx.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/M_tx/job/Norwood-Massachusetts/Sr-Scientist--Process-Development_R4689