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Principal Research Associate, Clinical Biomarker Laboratory, Flow Cytometry
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Technical Flow Cytometry Scientist – Clinical (Oxford)
The Role
Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.
This remote-hybrid role (primarily Oxford-based) offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of clinical immunology, applying advanced spectral flow cytometry technologies to generate critical data that informs clinical development decisions across multiple therapeutic areas.
As part of the Clinical Flow Cytometry Group, you will serve as a technical expert, operating within a GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practice) environment and supporting the development, validation, and execution of complex cell-based assays for clinical programs. Working alongside a collaborative team, you will leverage high-parameter flow cytometry, functional immune profiling, and innovative analytical approaches to deliver high-quality clinical data.
Key opportunities include engagement with emerging digital technologies and Generative AI-enabled tools, supporting data interpretation, workflow optimization, and operational excellence across the clinical laboratory environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Data Generation & ExperimentalLeadership:Serve as a technical expert within the Clinical Flow Cytometry Group, generating high-parameter flow cytometry data under GCLP guidelines to support clinical programs.
- Clinical Testing & Compliance: Execute clinical sample testing adhering to GCLP requirements while maintaining quality, compliance, and data integrity.
- Advanced Assay Development: Set up and perform ex vivo assays, including stimulation protocols for functional profiling of immune responses using validated assays on clinical trial samples.
- High-Parameter Immunophenotyping: Carry out immunophenotyping on PBMC (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells) and whole blood samples using advanced spectral flow cytometry platforms (e.g., Cytek Aurora).
- Sample Processing: Conduct PBMC isolation and cryopreservation from blood products within established procedures, SOP standards, and quality benchmarks.
- Process Governance: Ensure strict protocol adherence to maintain reproducibility, regulatory compliance, and data integrity.
- Troubleshooting & Quality Assurance: Identify, investigate, and resolve quality issues while escalating concerns appropriately to sustain operational excellence.
- Regulatory Documentation: Maintain accurate and compliant documentation using ELNs (Electronic Laboratory Notebooks) and LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).
- Study Leadership: When assigned, act as a study lead or assay lead, ensuring timely and successful execution of study objectives and timelines.
- Experimental Independence: Independently design, execute, and analyze experiments from sample preparation to data interpretation, ensuring mature, defensible insights.
- Data Analysis & Communication: Analyze complex flow cytometry datasets (e.g., using FCS Express) and present findings to internal stakeholders.
- Workflow Improvement: Follow documented experimental workflows, identifying ways to improve efficiency, accuracy, and operational effectiveness.
- Technical Documentation: Support regulatory submissions with SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), Analytical Study Plans, and Analytical Study Reports.
- Team Collaboration: Partner with functional leads, study leads, and assay teams to develop, validate, and transition assays for clinical sample analysis.
- Instrumentation Support: Operate Cytek Aurora spectral flow cytometers and support assay execution.
- Process Optimization: Identify compliance and procedural gaps, then design mitigation strategies to reduce risks, minimize downtime, and prevent data loss.
- Technological Innovation: Evaluate, test, and implement emerging laboratory technologies and methodologies.
- Team Leadership: Occasionally guide junior team members, educate on best practices, and mentor workflow execution.
- Flexible Duties: Support shift work and weekends when required to meet business demands.
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Moderna Mindsets Required
To excel, you must embody:
- "We obsess over learning." Focus on rapid knowledge acquisition rather than innate expertise.
- "We digitise everywhere possible." Embrace Generative AI and workflow automation to enhance efficiency and clinical impact.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements
- Hold a BA or MSc in Immunology, Life Sciences, Biology, or a related field; >5 years of laboratory experience, preferably within an industrial setting.
- A PhD in a relevant discipline may be considered toward meeting this requirement.
- Minimum of 3 years of hands-on flow cytometry experience—with a demonstrated understanding of best practices spanning all phases: sample processing, staining, acquisition, and analysis.
- Proficiency in spectral flow cytometry ( академический опыт использования спектрального потокового цитометра).
- Direct experience operating high-end cytometers, such as:
- Cytek Aurora
- BD Fortessa/Symphony
- Experience with analytical software:
- FCS Express
- OMIQ
- FlowJo
- Microsoft Office proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- A practical understanding of artificial intelligence as applied to scientific research (e.g., data interpretation, workflow automation, AI-powered tools for workflow assistants and QA).
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, including written and presentation delivery.
- Adaptability to changing priorities, responding quickly to time-sensitive requests.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience with:
- Cell culture techniques
- PBMC isolation from whole blood
- Ex vivo assays (including intracellular cytokine staining for functional immune profiling)
- Operative knowledge of regulated environments (GCP, GLP, ISO compliance) within a clinical testing laboratory.
- Proficiency in data analysis/visualization tools beyond standard cytometry software:
- GraphPad Prism
- R for data analytical workflows (Dplyr, Shiny, ggplot2, lapply).
- Up-to-date on the latest best practices in flow cytometry and its role in clinical trials.
- A demonstrated level of independence, capable of shoulder-to-shoulder contributions in autonomic workflow development, authoring slightly advanced drafting.
What We Offer
At Moderna, we balance work and well-being because we believe: When you feel your best, you can do your best work. Our global benefits package supports you at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
Explore selected highlights below (exact benefits may vary by geography, role, or contract classification):
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Premier Healthcare Benefits:
- Access to best-in-class medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Voluntary benefits programs tailored for your unique lifestyle needs (e.g., paramedics, pet insurance).
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Well-Being Initiatives:
- 24/7 mental health resources, counseling support, and mindfulness programs.
- Fitness facilities (on-site in select locations) and reimbursement for activity-tracking devices.
- Offices or on-site amenities (childcare facilites, meal programs).
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Family & Development Support:
- IVF (including donor and gestational surrogacy coverage).
- Adoption support grants.
- Up to six weeks paid parental leave (extended beyond parental coverage to include surrogacy and fertility.)
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Time Away & Flexibility:
- Generous standard time off: 26+ paid vacation days per year (varies by country).
- 13+ bank holiday days regionally applicable.
- Paid volunteer days: up to 5 days annually.
- Sabbatical entitlements (phiordic).
- Global Recharge Days: annual paid days for travel or wellness breaks.
- Discretionary year-end gestational shutdown (up to 3 weeks).
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Investment & Security:
- Competitive short-term incentive bonuses (annual).
- Stock awards and employee benefits matching in select pay structures.
- Retirement planning support through 401(k)/403(b) programs.
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Location-Specific Amenities:
- Community outings and social events.
- Select perks based on regional lifestyle (e.g., London offices, Boston HQ).
- Flexible in-office presence model (70% on-site, 30% hybrid hybrid)
About Moderna
Since 2010, we have been focused on transforming medicine into a world-leading mRNA platform. Thoughtful investments in state-of-the-art technology, infrastructure, clinical studies, and talent acquisition underpin unparalleled momentum in our quest to change the face of modern therapeutics.
Our culture of learning is rooted in collaborative ** dienstgespräche, creative problem-solving, and accountability**. The talent that makes ornament exceptional today will pioneer tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
Moderna has consistently earned partnerships as:
- The Top Biopharma Employer (Science).
- A Best Workplace for Female Innovators (Fast Company).
- A Great Place to Work (U.S. Centiles).
An In-Person Culture
Proximity drives progress. We champion collaboration in a 70/30 in-office model, blending:
- a high-trust culture of accountability,
- clear performance goals,
- localized social connectivity.
Moderna ensures an environment where:
- Every employee shapes culture by changing how medicine is imagined and delivered.
- Opportunities live beyond the daily job, with exposure to innovation fields, mentorship, and scientific character-building.
Make an impact. Join the team transforming immunotherapy and chronic disease treatments. Explore current opportunities at https://modernatx.com/careers.
Equity & Commitment
✅ Workplace Values Priorities: Moderna enforces zero tolerance for:
- Smoking/drugs/alcohol intoxication in the workplace.
- A balanced yet dynamic working culture emphasizes serious commitment, engagement, and impact. Individually & collectively, proven ( SHAIL TALEGMI-STRAIGHT Chronological).
🌟 Inclusive Commitment: We celebrate diversity principles and are assigned with providing equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees:
- Race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry or immigration status**
- Age, religion, disability, veteran, caregiver & protected status of pregnancy federally protected
- Genetic information, medical condition, marital status, familial responsibilities**
We support applicants in accommodations/enroll/restrictions relating to disability or emergency access: Kindly communicate inquiries via:
leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com
Moderna embraces qualified applicants regardless of benefits eligibility or criminal history. Implicit bias eliminates through fair recruitment practices: reflecting our inclusive愿景.
Promoting human-led mentorship and scientific integrity, Moderna continues to foster a person-US community where each voice is heard. Staples and small, the transformational path is funded by exceptional minds like you.
Onward to leading-edge medicine.
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