Principal Research Associate, Clinical Biomarker Laboratory, Flow Cytometry

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. This role is based in Oxford and offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of clinical immunology, applying advanced spectral flow cytometry technologies to generate critical data that informs clinical development decisions across multiple therapeutic areas.

As part of the Clinical Flow Cytometry group, you will serve as a technical expert operating within a GCLP environment, supporting the development, validation, and execution of complex cell-based assays for clinical programs. Working alongside a highly collaborative team of scientists, you will leverage high-parameter flow cytometry, functional immune profiling, and innovative analytical approaches to deliver high-quality clinical data. You will also have opportunities to engage with emerging digital technologies and Generative AI-enabled tools that support data interpretation, workflow optimization, documentation, and operational excellence across the clinical laboratory environment.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Serve as a technical expert within the Clinical Flow Cytometry group, supporting clinical programs across multiple therapeutic areas through the generation of high-parameter flow cytometry data under GCLP guidelines.
• Execute clinical sample testing under GCLP requirements while maintaining the highest standards of quality, compliance, and data integrity.
• Set up and perform ex vivo assays, including ex vivo stimulation protocols for functional profiling of immune responses using validated assays on clinical trial samples.
• Perform high-parameter immunophenotyping on PBMC and whole blood samples utilizing advanced spectral flow cytometry platforms.
• Conduct PBMC isolation and cryopreservation from blood products in accordance with established procedures and quality standards.
• Ensure strict adherence to protocols, technical procedures, and documentation requirements to support assay rigor, reproducibility, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve quality issues while escalating concerns appropriately to maintain operational excellence.
• Maintain accurate and compliant documentation utilizing Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• When assigned, act as a study lead or assay lead within clinical testing programs, ensuring successful execution of study objectives and timelines.
• Play a key role in the development of high-parameter spectral flow cytometry assays and their application to clinical trial samples to generate impactful clinical data.
• Independently execute experiments from sample preparation through data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.
• Analyze complex flow cytometry datasets using FCS Express and effectively communicate findings to internal stakeholders.
• Deliver high-quality data within established timelines while meeting current industry expectations for data quality, integrity, and reproducibility.
• Follow established experimental workflows and documentation procedures while proactively identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
• Support the preparation of regulatory and technical documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Analytical Study Plans, and Analytical Study Reports.
• Collaborate with functional leads, study leads, and assay leads to support assay development, fit-for-purpose validation activities, and preparation for clinical sample analysis.
• Operate and support assay execution on Cytek Aurora spectral flow cytometers.
• Identify process, compliance, and procedural gaps and develop mitigation strategies to minimize downtime, reduce risk, and prevent data loss.
• Partner with colleagues to evaluate, feasibility test, and implement emerging laboratory technologies and innovative methodologies.
• When assigned, act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for instrument management, process management, or specialized laboratory workflows.
• Contribute to laboratory housekeeping, governance activities, safe laboratory practices, and maintenance of a compliant laboratory environment.
• Educate, mentor, guide, and train junior team members as appropriate.
• Support business needs through occasional overtime and weekend work when required.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role

• We obsess over learning. We don’t have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest.
• We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)

• BA or MS in Immunology, Life Sciences, Biology, or related field; >5yr lab experience, preferably in industry.
• PhD in a relevant field will be considered as part of experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on flow cytometry experience including best practices for generating high quality data throughout the process from sample processing and staining, through to sample acquisition.
• An understanding of spectral flow cytometry.
• In-depth experience on cytometers. Cytometers such as Cytek Aurora, BD Fortessa/Symphony, and similar are preferred.
• Knowledge of system software for data analysis: FCS Express, OMIQ, FlowJo.
• Experience with working with Microsoft office tools including Word, PowerPoint, Excel.
• A practical understanding of the use of AI for scientific problem solving.
• An effective communicator and collaborator within project teams with good written and presentation skills.
• Flexibility with changing priorities and urgent project requests.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience with cell culture, ex vivo assays, and PBMC isolation from whole blood is desired.
• Experience in assessing cell-mediated immunity through flow cytometry: ex vivo stimulation of PBMC and intracellular cytokine staining for functional profiling is highly desirable.
• Experience working in a regulated environment (GCP, GLP, ISO standard) and within a clinical testing laboratory is highly desirable.
• Possess good computational skills, experienced with GraphPad Prism, R.
• Up to date on best practices in flow cytometry and application to clinical trials.
• Demonstrated level of independence.