Pioneering Medicines Principal Scientist / Associate Director, In Vivo Pharmacology

What if... We could harness the power of Flagship’s scientific platforms and create novel treatment options that benefit more patients, sooner?

Pioneering Medicines, an initiative of Flagship Pioneering, is building a world-class biopharmaceutical R&D capability focused on conceiving and developing life-changing treatments for patients by harnessing the power of Flagship's scientific platforms and applying those innovative approaches to serious diseases with unmet medical need. Unique to Pioneering Medicines’ approach is the opportunity to combine platforms to create truly novel and potentially transformative treatments. 

About Flagship Pioneering:

Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life science platform companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $34 billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents, and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents.  

Position Summary:

Pioneering Medicines is seeking a highly motivated and strategic Principal Scientist / Associate Director of in vivo Pharmacology to support a growing portfolio of assets. This key role will require an individual to direct and oversee in vivo pharmacology efforts, participating in drug discovery and early development activities. The role will involve functional accountability to support assets across a diverse range of modalities and therapeutic areas, including obesity and metabolic diseases. The candidate will work in cross-functional teams leading and supporting the activities, delivering research leadership, and managing/mentoring junior scientists. The successful candidate is expected to proactively build and maintain strong collaborations with Flagship Pioneering platform companies and large pharma partners. We are seeking individuals who are analytical, goal-oriented, and timeline-sensitive, while maintaining the highest of scientific and ethical standards. Strong communication skills and comfort working in a dynamic and cross-functional team environment are required.

Responsibilities: 

• Represent the in vivo pharmacology function on drug discovery project teams, supporting assets across diverse therapeutic area across therapeutic areas, including metabolic, oncology, inflammatory
• Identify and implement in vivo efficacy and PK/PD models to support assessment of lead small molecules, antibodies, peptides and genetic modalities, with a focus on disease-relevant endpoints, PD, and target-specific biomarkers
• Participate in partnerships and collaboration efforts with Flagship Platform companies and external pharmaceutical partners
• Collaborate closely across functions such as in vitro pharmacology, DMPK/Tox, and translational sciences to advance programs to development candidate and IND-enabling studies
• Management of direct report/s to execute internal studies and manage studies at external CROs to achieve program goals
• This position is on-site/hybrid in Cambridge, MA and requires hand-on experience and being in the lab
• Contribute to discussions with internal project teams, external partners and consultants in developing comprehensive in vivo strategic plans
• Work closely with other FSP companies to develop research strategies and evaluate new programs.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD + 7 years of industry experience or MS with 9+ years of industry experience within in vivo pharmacology or related discipline
• Strong understanding of PK/PD assessments in models of disease and experience in designing ex vivo studies to assess PD and target engagement endpoints, is a must-have.
• Experience with in vivo models of obesity, metabolic diseases, oncology inflammation, and/or autoimmunity . Cardiovascular experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience and managing in vivo personnel in a dynamic and fast-paced research environment preferred.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience working with standard modalities, such as small molecules, antibodies and peptides desired.
• Working knowledge of gene-based therapy approaches (gene regulation, RNA medicine, gene therapy, gene editing, and/or gene silencing) desirable but not required.
• Collaborative mindset and a willingness to work with different teams.
• Experience with animal facility management, protocol writing, interactions with IACUC.
• Excellent communication skills.