Senior Scientist, Discovery Science

About the role

What if… you could join an organization that creates, resources, and builds life sciences companies that invent breakthrough technologies in order to transform health care and sustainability?

FL125 is a cutting-edge biotechnology platform company developing oligonucleotide therapies enabling superior solutions for therapeutic, diagnostics and tool development. This is a unique opportunity to be one of the first employees of a biotech startup that combines an innovative, and disruptive mindset with the resources and know-how of Flagship Pioneering.

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated and highly collaborative Senior Scientist to join our Discovery Biology team. The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of biochemistry, assay development, and tissue sample processing, with a strong track record of collaborating with in-vivo pharmacologists / in-vivo biologists, NGS scientists, and bioinformatics teams. The role also involves management of contract research organizations (CROs). The ideal candidate will be highly adaptable, have strong organizational and communication skills, and will thrive in a highly collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive translational platform innovation aligned with FL125's core strategic goals, with a focus on biochemical assay development, analysis of oligonucleotides in complex mixtures, and tissue processing.
• Generate and develop enhanced oligonucleotides in different biological settings and against a broad set of drug targets.
• Support the design of in vivo experiments based on protocols developed in-vitro
• Work in close collaboration with biochemists, in-vivo biologists, NGS scientists, and bioinformatics teams.
• Work closely with CROs conducting in-vitro / in-vivo experiments to identify new drug molecules
• Generate rapid and accurate turnaround of high-quality experimental data to drive decision-making for platform and pipeline programs.
• Establish and refine workflows, SOPs, and documentation practices for experimental processes at scale.
• Clearly communicate experimental design, results, challenges, and next steps in internal meetings and with external collaborators.

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, drug discovery, or a related field, with 3+ years of industry experience in discovery research. Postdoctoral experience may also be acceptable depending on research focus.
• Hands-on experience designing and interpreting complex in vitro and ex vivo experimental workflows, including sample processing and assay development.
• Good understanding of in vivo experiments for drug discovery and development in mouse models.
• Some familiarity with high-dimensional readouts such as NGS and proteomics.
• Hands-on experience with standard biochemical techniques and an ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex experimental workflows.
• Track record of working in multidisciplinary teams, including biochemists, in vivo biologists, and bioinformaticians.
• Motivated team-player and independent force-of-nature with strong organizational and written/verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with oligonucleotides.
• Experience designing and executing mouse model experiments.
• Experience working with contract research organizations (CROs).

What we can offer you

• Opportunity to lay the scientific foundation of a transformative platform company as an early employee.
• A custom-tailored role to maximize impactful contributions, professional growth, and scientific interests.
• Tightly knit team, social activities and community lunchroom with free snacks, and a vibrant community of scientists and entrepreneurs.