Sr. Research Associate, ID Immunology

About the role

Moderna is seeking a talented, experienced, and motivated Sr. Research Associate to join the Infectious Disease Research Immunology team. The candidate will be part of a team advancing vaccine and therapeutic candidates from key preclinical through IND-enabling studies and will further support translational decisions across multiple programs. This role will focus on the design, execution, and optimization of antibody binding and functional serological assays to characterize humoral immune responses across preclinical models and clinical samples.

The successful candidate will generate high-quality data, analyze and interpret experimental results to inform vaccine and therapeutic strategies, contribute to the development of novel immunological assays, and support the evaluation of immune responses to mRNA-based interventions. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, detail-oriented scientist with strong technical expertise, excellent communication skills, and a passion for advancing mRNA technologies to address unmet infectious disease threats.

Responsibilities

• Execute and optimize antibody binding assays across platforms including ELISA, Luminex, MSD, and Octet
• Design, develop, and perform competitive and capture ligand binding assays
• Perform functional serological assays, including blockade and enzyme inhibition assays
• Conduct epitope-specific enrichment and depletion studies to characterize humoral immune responses
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures and develop and execute cell-based assays
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using tools such as GraphPad Prism
• Maintain accurate and detailed records in electronic lab notebooks and contribute to SOP development
• Prepare clear, data-driven presentations and reports and present findings at team meetings
• Manage multiple experiments and projects concurrently, collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams
• Support automation of routine assays and implement AI-enabled workflows where applicable
• Evaluate scientific literature to inform assay development and identify emerging technologies in infectious disease research

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with expertise in immunology, microbiology, vaccinology, or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience
• Hands-on experience with ligand binding assays and strong understanding in designing and executing assays with increasing independence
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to evolving scientific and programmatic needs
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and commitment to data quality and reproducibility
• This position is site-based, requiring full-time presence at Moderna’s site (not eligible for remote work)
• Must already hold work authorization in the US and be able to maintain that status without future sponsorship

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to work across pathogen types (bacteria, viruses)
• Experience working in a cross-functional environment
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to influence and collaborate in a team environment
• Curiosity in exploring new paths for drug discovery, boldness in proposing creative experimental designs, and relentless pursuit of successful outcomes

Benefits

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support unique needs
• Holistic well-being support, including fitness, mindfulness, and mental health resources
• 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 investment programs to help plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

Pay

The salary range for this role is $74,000.00 - $118,400.00. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on 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.

Schedule

This role follows a 70/30 work model, with 70% in-office collaboration to foster innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship.