Senior Scientist, Translational Immunology

The Role:

Moderna is seeking a Senior Scientist to join the Infectious Disease Research Immunology team in Cambridge, MA. You will lead translational immunology studies that help teams understand immune responses and make decisions about vaccine and therapeutic candidates. The role combines scientific leadership with experimental expertise across preclinical models and human samples.

As a member of the Immunology leadership team, you will work across programs to identify the questions that matter, develop study plans, and interpret results in their biological and clinical context. We are seeking an immunologist with deep expertise in B cells, T cells, or innate immune cells who can apply that expertise to new questions and learn beyond their original specialty. The scientific focus will reflect your strengths and the needs of the portfolio. Expertise in every area listed below is not expected.

Here’s What You’ll Do:

• Lead translational immunology strategy for assigned programs, identifying the immune mechanisms to investigate and the evidence needed to inform candidate selection, study design, and subsequent development decisions.
• Design and lead studies using human samples and preclinical models to characterize immune-cell responses and connect cellular, antibody, and functional findings to program questions.
• Provide experimental expertise and scientific oversight in your area of specialization. Develop fit-for-purpose assays, establish appropriate controls, and explain what the results do and do not support.
• Work with colleagues in virology, bacteriology, antigen design, clinical development, medical affairs, biomarkers, and computational sciences to integrate findings across studies and guide the next experiments.
• Lead studies in your area of immunology expertise, such as B-cell and antibody biology, T-cell responses, or innate immunity, while applying and expanding your skills to address questions across programs.
• Support platform studies and new discovery efforts by evaluating emerging methods and identifying approaches that can be used across programs.
• Set scientific priorities with program teams, balance competing demands, and communicate scientific rationale, evidence, uncertainties, and recommendations clearly to research and development leaders.
• Mentor scientists and research associates, strengthen experimental design and data interpretation, and help colleagues build new capabilities.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications):

• PhD in immunology or a related discipline, with a strong foundation in immune-cell biology and relevant research experience.
• 2+ years of experience.
• Deep expertise in at least one area of cellular immunology, such as B-cell, T-cell, or innate immune-cell biology, supported by hands-on experience studying primary immune cells.
• Experience designing and interpreting cellular assays, including multiparameter flow cytometry and functional assays appropriate to your area of expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to translate a biological or clinical question into a study plan and use the findings to guide a research or development decision.
• Experience leading scientific work across disciplines, mentoring colleagues, and communicating complex results and their limitations clearly.
• Ability to learn new biological areas and methods quickly, adapt to changing program needs, and contribute beyond your primary specialty.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications):

The following specialist methods and experience would strengthen your application. Candidates may bring depth in one or more areas; experience in all of them is not required.

• B-cell and antibody biology, including antigen-specific cell isolation, antibody discovery, repertoire analysis, epitope mapping, or antibody binding and function.
• T-cell biology, including antigen-specific responses, differentiation and memory, antigen presentation, or functional assessment.
• Innate immune-cell biology, including myeloid-cell function, immune activation, or mechanisms that shape vaccine responses.
• Mucosal or tissue immunity, including local immune responses and relevant human or preclinical models.
• Single-cell or other high-dimensional immune profiling, with experience integrating cellular, molecular, and functional data.
• Infectious disease, vaccine, or therapeutic development experience, including translational studies using human samples.

Our Working Model

As we build our company, we have always believed that an in-person culture is critical to our success. This role is 100% onsite, reflecting the importance of being physically present to support the work, collaborate closely with colleagues, and contribute to our site-based operations.

Working onsite enables real-time collaboration, strong team connections, direct mentorship, and the hands-on partnership needed to deliver our mission. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Equal Opportunities

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law.  Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!

Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

Accommodations

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

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