Senior Scientist / Principal Scientist Discovery Biology at Saturnus Bio in Cambridge, MA

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret studies to evaluate pharmacology and address biological questions for drug discovery programs for cardiomyopathy targets.
• Apply advanced disease models, including patient-derived and gene-edited iPSCs, iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, and engineered 3D cardiac tissues, to assess target engagement, mechanism of action, and functional rescue.
• Provide deep biology expertise for cardiomyopathy programs to enable high quality target validation, hit ID, mechanistic pharmacology studies, and translational biomarker development to support project advancement.
• Collaborate closely with chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, bioinformatics, and translational research teams to advance oligonucleotide therapeutics from discovery through candidate selection.
• Maintain an active laboratory presence by designing, executing, and troubleshooting key experiments while providing technical leadership to the team.
• Communicate scientific strategy and program progress to senior leadership, external collaborators, and scientific advisors.
• Mentor and develop junior scientists through technical coaching, project leadership, and career development while contributing to a collaborative, high-performing research environment.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, or a related discipline, with 5-10+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical drug discovery experience (eventual title commensurate to experience).
• Demonstration of deep expertise in genetic cardiomyopathies and heart failure, through academic research or active contribution to drug discovery programs in a pharma or biotech setting.
• Broad expertise in molecular and cellular biology and ability to rapidly master new techniques needed for successful project advancement.
• Demonstrated experience in preclinical drug discovery programs, with experience and success contributing to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience developing and applying complex cellular models, particularly patient-derived and engineered iPSC systems, cardiomyocyte differentiation, and disease-relevant functional assays.
• Experience with the design and interpretation of in vivo rodent studies of genetic cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
• Proven ability to mentor scientists and foster cross-functional collaboration across discovery disciplines.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience with RNA biology and RNA-targeted therapeutics approaches, including oligonucleotide-based modalities.
• Experience with cellular biology techniques including high content imaging, immunofluorescence, 3D contractility, MEA studies, etc.
• Broad expertise in modern molecular biology techniques, including CRISPR genome engineering, viral vector systems (AAV/lentivirus), flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing, and high-content imaging.
• Strong publication and/or patent record in cardiomyopathy and heart failure or related fields.
• Demonstrated track record of mentoring scientists, building technical capabilities, and advancing discovery programs from concept through candidate selection.

Skills

Required

• Molecular biology
• Cellular biology
• Pharmacology
• Drug discovery
• iPSC systems
• Cardiomyocyte differentiation
• Functional assays
• In vivo rodent studies
• Mentoring
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Communication
• Presentation

Preferred

• RNA biology
• RNA-targeted therapeutics
• Oligonucleotide-based modalities
• High content imaging
• Immunofluorescence
• 3D contractility
• MEA studies
• CRISPR genome engineering