Senior​/Principal Scientist, Immunology & Pharmacology

The Opportunity

Pharma Essentia 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.

Pharma Essentia 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, Pharma Essentia integrates scientific excellence with innovative technologies to address diseases with significant unmet medical need.

Established in 2023, the Pharma Essentia 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

At Pharma Essentia…