Senior Research Associate Genomics

About Empress

Empress is a privately-held early-stage biotech company advancing a proprietary platform to generate small molecule drugs faster and more predictably.

Empress is a product of Flagship Pioneering's venture creation engine, which has also given rise to companies such as Moderna Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MRNA), Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT), Omega Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OMGA), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Indigo Agriculture. Since 2000, Flagship has applied its unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, all of which are pioneering novel and proprietary biological, industrial, and engineering approaches to solve major needs in human health and sustainability. In 2023, Flagship Pioneering was ranked 5th in North America on Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list, an annual ranking of companies that are making the biggest strides across the world and in all sectors of the economy.

About The Role 

Empress Therapeutics is seeking an inventive Senior Research Associate, Genomics, to help us discover new medicines, fast. As a critical member of the Empress drug discovery team, you will profile candidate therapeutic compounds at scale using single cell and bulk RNA sequencing to identify the most promising compounds to progress. You will identify and validate targets for small molecules of interest using genetic perturbation and single cell RNA sequencing.

Core Responsibilities 

• Implement high capacity bulk RNAseq platform to assess biological activity of small molecules.
• Support target ID for high priority compounds, following-up on target lists with genetic perturbation studies in cellular systems.
• Help to develop robust & scalable target ID methods for Platform using CRISPR, single cell RNASeq, Perturb-Seq and related concepts and technologies.
• Help to establish Genomics group as part of larger Biology and Empress teams.
• Collaborate with computational team on design, analysis and interpretation of functional genomics experiments.

Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree and 3+ years’ experience or Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years’ experience in molecular biology, biotechnology, cell biology, bioengineering, or a related field.
• Experience in molecular biology and mammalian cell biology including functional genomic profiling.
• Strong molecular biology skills including viral transduction and preparation of sequencing libraries for bulk RNAseq &/or single cell RNAseq from cells and tissues.
• Experience with targeted gene perturbation via CRISPR-mediated and/or RNAi-mediated methods.
• Must have excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively as part of a team required.

      The preferred candidate will ideally also possess the following skills:

• Prior working experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical industry setting.
• Previous experience with automation and liquid handling in support of genomics applications.
• Experience with Perturb-Seq or related experimental methods.
• Basic NGS analysis skills.

What We’ll Offer You

• Comprehensive, competitive healthcare and dental coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, vision coverage through VSP, family leave, paid time off, 401k retirement plan, disability and life insurance, and fully covered parking/commuter benefits.
• A dynamic early-stage work environment and highly interdisciplinary, talented, and collaborative team.
• Opportunities to invent and discover.

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.   Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.