Senior Scientist, LNP Formulations

The posting, as Serif Biomedicines, Inc. wrote it

Company description

Serif Biomedicines is a privately held, early-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to gene therapy that can address currently untreatable diseases. It was founded by Flagship Pioneering, an innovation enterprise that conceives, creates, resources, and grows first-in-category life sciences companies.

Flagship Pioneering has created over 100 groundbreaking companies over the past twenty years, all of which are pioneering novel and proprietary biological, industrial, and engineering approaches to solve major needs in human health and sustainability. These companies include Moderna (MRNA), Syros Pharmaceuticals (SYRS), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MCRB), Generate Biomedicines, Tessera Tx, Evelo Biosciences (EVLO), and Indigo Agriculture.

The role

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist II with deep expertise in lipid chemistry to drive the design of novel ionizable lipids and the next generation of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations for nucleic acid delivery. This role will focus on the rational design and synthesis of new ionizable lipids, the design of optimized LNP molar compositions, and the preparation of LNP formulations to screen and benchmark those new lipids.

This is an ideal opportunity for a chemist who wants to see their molecules move rapidly from the bench into functional LNPs, working at the interface of medicinal and organic chemistry, formulation science and delivery biology.

As a senior scientific contributor, this individual will be expected to operate with a high degree of independence, influence cross-functional program direction, and identify innovative solutions to advance platform capabilities. The role also includes mentoring junior scientists and contributing to the broader scientific strategy through internal leadership and external scientific engagement.

Key responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel ionizable lipids, including head group, linker and tail variants, using structure-activity relationships and the pKa, biodegradability and tolerability profile of each series to guide design.
• Lead the design of LNP molar compositions, optimizing the ratios of ionizable lipid, helper lipid, cholesterol and PEG-lipid (and exploring alternative or novel excipients) for potency, stability and tolerability.
• Prepare LNP formulations at small scale (e.g., microfluidic or other mixing methods) to enable medium- to high-throughput screening of new lipids and compositions.
• Plan and conduct formulation screening studies, defining critical formulation parameters and building structure-property relationships across lipid libraries.
• Characterize lipids and LNPs using appropriate analytical methods (e.g., NMR, LC-MS, HPLC with CAD/ELSD, DLS, encapsulation and apparent pKa assays) and ensure lipid identity and purity.
• Collaborate with biology, analytical, process development and external partners to evaluate lead formulations in vitro and in vivo and feed resul

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The salary range for this role is $126,000 - $181,500. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Serif Biomedicines currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Serif Biomedicines's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Serif Biomedicines, Inc., a Flagship Pioneering portfolio company, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact privacy@flagshippioneering.com.