Senior / Principal Scientist, Immunology & Pharmacology

Senior / Principal Scientist, Immunology & Pharmacology
PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center (PIRC)

The Opportunity
PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center (PIRC) is expanding its drug discovery organization in the Greater Boston area and is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior or Principal Scientist with expertise in immunology, immuno-oncology, and translational pharmacology.
This role will lead and execute in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo pharmacology studies supporting target validation and advancement of early-stage therapeutic programs. The successful candidate will combine strong biological insight, technical rigor, and strategic thinking to generate data that drives discovery and preclinical development decisions.

About PharmaEssentia & PIRC
PharmaEssentia Corporation is a global biopharmaceutical company founded in 2003, focused on developing innovative biologic therapeutics in hematology, oncology, and immunology. With a commercial-stage product and an expanding pipeline, PharmaEssentia integrates scientific excellence with innovative technologies to address diseases with significant unmet medical need.
Established in 2023, the PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center (PIRC) is dedicated to advancing next-generation therapeutics through translational science, protein engineering, and novel therapeutic modalities. PIRC leverages deep expertise in oncology and immunology to identify and develop transformative therapeutic opportunities. Key Responsibilities
Discovery & Target Validation

• Collaborate with internal research teams and external partners to identify, evaluate, and prioritize novel therapeutic targets.
• Design and execute proof-of-concept (POC) studies to validate biological hypotheses and therapeutic mechanisms.

Pharmacology Strategy & Execution

• Develop and optimize in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo pharmacology assays.
• Generate high-quality, reproducible datasets to support discovery-stage decision making and program advancement.
• Apply mechanistic understanding of immunology and oncology to interpret experimental outcomes.

Program Leadership & Scientific Contribution

• Partner with project leaders to define scientific strategy, milestones, and deliverables.
• Contribute to advancement of discovery and preclinical programs toward IND-enabling studies.
• Provide scientific leadership across programs and mentor junior scientists.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work effectively within multidisciplinary teams spanning biologics discovery, translational science, bioinformatics/data science, and external CRO collaborators.
• Ensure timely analysis, interpretation, and communication of critical data and project updates.

Scientific Communication

• Present clear, data-driven scientific findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain awareness of emerging advances in immunology, oncology, and therapeutic modalities relevant to pipeline strategy.

Qualifications
Education & Experience

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacology, or a related discipline.
• Strong scientific background and hands-on experience in immunology and/or oncology drug discovery.
• Experience supporting discovery and preclinical-stage therapeutic programs.

• Approximately 6+ years of relevant industry experience.

Technical Expertise

• Hands-on experience with human primary immune cell assays and translational pharmacology workflows.
• Proficiency in multi-color flow cytometry (FACS), ELISA, MSD, and related immunological assay platforms.
• Experience with engineered cytokines, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and/or other novel therapeutic modalities preferred.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled or computational approaches supporting drug discovery is highly desirable.

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical, experimental design, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, fast-paced research environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Why Join PIRC

• Opportunity to directly influence early-stage therapeutic innovation and pipeline strategy.
• Collaborative and science-driven research culture.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including 401(k) matching and comprehensive health coverage.

Equal Employment Opportunity
At PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center (PIRC), we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
PIRC does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to PIRC employees or HR will become the property of PIRC without obligation or fee.

At PharmaEssentia, our goal is to treat as many people with cancer as possible. That means challenging the status quo with better science that leads to better lives. By joining our team, you will not only expand your own possibilities, but you will contribute to expanding options for people with cancer.