Senior Research Associate

The role

This person will support the development of targeted lipid nanoparticle (TNP) formulations. They will perform hands-on experimental work and collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance the delivery platform.

What you will do

• Synthesize, formulate, and optimize targeted nanoparticle (TNP) formulations for nucleic acid delivery.
• Prepare TNP batches to support in vitro and in vivo studies.
• Evaluate TNP performance in vitro, including transfection efficiency, potency, and stability.
• Conduct formulation screening and optimization of novel lipid and nanoparticle materials.
• Improve robustness and reproducibility of formulation workflows.
• Perform physicochemical and biophysical characterization of nanoparticles and conjugates.
• Assist in developing and executing assays to assess encapsulation efficiency, conjugation efficiency, stability, and potency.
• Analyze data, maintain accurate documentation, and present findings internally.
• Collaborate with biology, analytics, and computational/AI teams.
• Contribute to platform development and intellectual property–supporting experiments.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• 1–3+ years of relevant laboratory experience.
• Foundational understanding of lipid nanoparticle systems and/or nucleic acid delivery technologies.
• Understanding of experimental design principles and ability to execute and optimize established protocols.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet timelines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Motivated and comfortable performing hands-on experimental work in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Eager to learn new technologies and contribute to innovation.
• Values transparency, respect, and thoughtful communication.

Nice to have

• industry experience preferred
• Hands-on experience in nanoparticle formulation, bioconjugation, protein modification, or related areas preferred
• Chromatography systems (e.g., ÄKTA)
• Tangential flow filtration (TFF)
• DLS, zeta potential, UV-Vis, fluorescence-based assays
• SDS-PAGE or mass spectrometry

About the company

Sail Biomedicines is pioneering the integrative design and deployment of fully programmable medicines to transform patient care. Sail was founded by Flagship Pioneering.