Position Summary:We are seeking an outstanding
Associate Director to join us in ideating and building the next generation of Programmable Medicines and lead a team of talented scientists and engineers. We're looking for strong scientific leadership skills, a strong drive to innovate, and deep domain experience in
lipid nanoparticle manufacturing and scale up. More broadly, we're looking for an individual who brings scientific rigor, passion for leadership and mentoring of a diverse team, obsessive attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm, and a desire to innovate in a highly collaborative environment. This individual will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, working as part of a highly motivated and growing team.
Key Responsibilities: - Lead LNP scale-up from small R&D formulations to NHP scale in support of a development candidate. This merges the first bullet and the "ensure successful scale-up of drug product formulation and purification unit operations" bullet.
- Drive upstream and downstream process development, including mixing platforms (T-mix, impingement), TFF, and freeze/storage buffer optimization.
- Scale targeted LNPs (tLNPs), including conjugation, purification, and associated analytics.
- Run micro- to mid-scale formulation on microfluidics platforms (e.g., NanoAssemblr) to support platform advancement alongside cross-functional partners.
- Integrate QC profiling and method development (DLS, HPLC/CAD, LC-MS, encapsulation distribution assays) into process development.
- Lead and mentor a team of scientists and engineers, and partner across departments to deliver for in vivo studies.
Qualifications: - Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, or biomedical engineering, plus relevant industry experience
- Hands-on experience scaling nucleic acid LNP formulations across upstream, downstream, and analytics
- Working knowledge of mixing platforms (T-mix, impingement, microfluidics) and TFF
- Familiarity with LNP analytical methods (DLS, HPLC/CAD, LC-MS, encapsulation assays)
- Solid understanding of lipid and LNP design principles, stability, and their impact on critical product attributes
- General understanding of molecular biology and nucleic acid therapeutics
- Experience managing and mentoring research associates and junior scientists
Preferred Experience- Experience scaling in a GMP environment and managing CDMOs
- Experience taking LNPs to the clinic, including agency interactions
- Experience with tLNP conjugation at scale
- Lipid synthesis, purification, and compositional analysis
Location: In person
, Cambridge, MA
The salary range for this role is $154,000 - $203,500. 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.
