Moderna, Inc.

Sr. Research Associate, RNA Innovation

Moderna, Inc. • $74K — $118K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or related discipline with 2+ years of relevant hands-on research experience.
  • Strong hands-on experience in RNA synthesis, IVT RNA production, or nucleic-acid chemical biology.
  • Experience with RNA analytical characterization and functional RNA assays like RT-qPCR and sequencing.
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and implement new experimental techniques quickly and troubleshoot workflows.
  • Strong scientific curiosity focused on RNA features and their functional implications.
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills for cross-team collaboration.
  • Bias towards scientific rigor and urgency in generating high-quality data.

Responsibilities

  • Build and execute rapid RNA technology evaluation capabilities for assessing emerging concepts.
  • Design, synthesize, and characterize novel RNA with enhanced features.
  • Collaborate with platform teams to create relevant experiments evaluating RNA characteristics.
  • Lead experiments from conceptualization to interpretation, including data analysis.
  • Quickly adapt experimental approaches to test new hypotheses with unfamiliar techniques.
  • Translate experimental results into actionable insights for future RNA technology development.
  • Maintain rigorous documentation and reproducibility of experimental data.

Benefits

  • Competitive healthcare with voluntary programs tailored to individual needs.
  • Holistic well-being support including fitness, mindfulness, and mental health resources.
  • Family planning benefits such as fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support.
  • Generous paid time off including vacation and discretionary year-end shutdowns.
  • Savings and investment options for future planning.
  • Location-specific perks and extras to enhance employee experience.
Full Job Description
The Role

In this role you will translate emerging RNA technology concepts into experimentally validated design principles that can inform the next generation of RNA medicines.

Here's What You'll Do
  • Build and execute a rapid RNA technology evaluation capability to experimentally assess emerging RNA concepts and determine their potential and applicability.
  • Design, synthesize, and characterize novel RNA designs with new features.
  • Partner with platform teams to design focused, decision-relevant experiments that evaluate RNA fate, stability, potency, translation, and biological response.
  • Own experiments from concept through interpretation, including experimental design, RNA synthesis and characterization, assay execution, troubleshooting, data analysis, and communication of findings.
  • Develop and adapt experimental approaches to rapidly test new hypotheses, including implementing unfamiliar techniques or workflows when needed.
  • Translate experimental results into actionable insights, identifying structure-function relationships and design principles that can guide future RNA technology development.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally across platform teams to ensure that experimental learnings are shared and incorporated into broader technology and platform strategy.
  • Maintain rigorous experimental documentation and deliver high-quality, reproducible data with the speed and scientific rigor needed to support technology decisions.


Here's What You'll Need (Basic Qualifications)
  • BS in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline, with 2 plus years of relevant hands-on research experience.


Here's What You'll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)
  • Strong hands-on experience in one or more areas of RNA synthesis, IVT RNA production, oligonucleotide handling, RNA assembly, or nucleic-acid chemical biology.
  • Experience with RNA analytical characterization and one or more functional RNA assay platforms, such as RT-qPCR, sequencing, reporter assays, mammalian cell culture, or protein-expression measurements.
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and implement new experimental techniques quickly, troubleshoot technically challenging workflows, and independently advance experiments from initial concept to interpretable data.
  • Strong scientific curiosity and an interest in understanding how RNA features influence RNA function and biological fate.
  • Ability to critically analyze experimental data, identify meaningful trends, and use results to propose and prioritize subsequent experiments.
  • Excellent organizational, experimental record-keeping, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
  • A strong bias toward experimentation, scientific rigor, and generating high-quality, decision-driving data with urgency.
  • A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.


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

The salary range for this role is $74,000.00 - $118,400.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs.The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

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