Principal Scientist, Muscle and Neuromuscular Research

Job Title: Principal Scientist, Muscle and Neuromuscular Research

Location: Cambridge, MA

About the Job

Join the engine of Sanofi’s mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research. In R&D, you’ll drive breakthroughs that could turn the impossible into possible for millions.

We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Scientist to drive the expansion of our muscle and neuromuscular research pipeline through both internal discovery and external innovation. The successful candidate will possess deep expertise in muscle biology, ranging from normal muscle physiology to genetic cardiac, skeletal, and neuromuscular diseases

This individual will contribute by proposing new ideas and driving the advancement of pipeline programs. The candidate is expected to collaborate with academic and industry partners to identify novel targets, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches. In parallel, they will build and maintain relationships with key opinion leaders to access disease models, patient samples, and translational resources that accelerate biomarker discovery and de-risk later-stage research programs.

The position offers the opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment and to mentor or manage a team of junior scientists.

About Sanofi:
We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.
 

Main Responsibilities:

• Initiate and lead pipeline programs in a modality agnostic manner (biologics, oligonucleotides, small molecules, genomic medicines), including hands on work in the lab

• Landscape novel mechanisms and target discovery in the external space and balance with internal efforts to drive strategic direction and decisions within neuromuscular pipeline  

• Engage and strengthen KoL network to set up collaborations for early and late-stage research bringing in colleagues across research as needed

• Work closely with and across project teams to advance rare muscle programs through early engagement with Translational Medicine Unit to build/strengthen biomarker strategies

• Maintain close relationship with counterparts in Clinical, Medical, and Business Development organizations to support life cycle management as well as expansion of neuromuscular pipeline

• Contribute to strategic initiatives, prepare high quality presentations and communications for senior leadership and contribute to publications and regulatory filings as needed

About You

Basic Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in molecular biology, cellular biology, or related discipline PLUS at least 5 years research experience in biopharmaceutical or academic setting

• Experience in muscle biology and neuromuscular research

• Experience in translational research and drug development

• Track record of significant contribution to research projects and scientific publications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Program leadership experience in the industry setting

• Strong understanding of emerging science, leading therapeutic approaches and competitive landscapes for neuromuscular disorders

• Experience with broad range of cell-based and animal models of muscle/neuromuscular disorders and cardiomyopthathies and relevant functional readouts

• Experience with computational biology and implementing a broad range of ‘omics approaches, including subsequent data mining/analysis

• Experience managing studies at CROs

• Familiarity with wide range of therapeutic modalities including biologics, small molecules, oligonucleotides, and/or genomic medicines

• The candidate is expected to have a strong network of research and clinician colleagues to leverage for collaboration and insight

• Experience drafting regulatory documents to support IND or CTA applications with agencies like the FDA and EMA