Sr. Scientist, Antibody Discovery and Engineering

Role: Senior Scientist in Antibody Discovery within Moderna's Therapeutics Research, focusing on engineering and optimizing antibody molecules for oncology and autoimmune indications. Responsibilities: lead protein and antibody engineering efforts using yeast display, including library design, selection, affinity maturation, and cross-reactivity optimization; collaborate with computational design and structural biology teams to translate in silico hypotheses into experimental constructs; characterize candidates through biochemical, biophysical, and functional assays; analyze selection data and guide lead nomination; independently design experiments, troubleshoot challenges, and contribute to scientific strategy; mentor junior scientists and communicate findings to cross-functional teams. Requirements: PhD in protein engineering, molecular biology, immunology, or related field; 2+ years industry experience in antibody discovery or protein engineering; hands-on expertise with yeast display workflows, library construction, FACS, affinity maturation, and antibody formats (IgG, Fab, scFv, bispecifics); strong understanding of structure-function relationships and experimental characterization techniques; experience analyzing high-throughput sequencing datasets; excellent experimental design, troubleshooting, and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills. Preferred: experience with advanced display technologies, computational/experimental design workflows, therapeutic formats (T cell engagers, CARs), immune repertoire analysis, and impactful contributions to therapeutic programs. Work setup: 100% onsite at Moderna’s location; no travel specified. High-value biopharma specifics: focus on antibody discovery for oncology and autoimmune diseases, emphasizing engineering, selection, and optimization of biologics in early to late development stages.