Senior Scientist / Principal Scientist, Immunology

About us:

Abata is developing regulatory T cells (Tregs) therapies for autoimmunity to transform lives with cures for Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes. By arming Tregs with T cell receptors that provide tissue-specific activation at the site of disease, Tregs will restore homeostasis in the tissue enabling a robust, durable response, while avoiding systemic immune suppression. 

Our work is fundamentally audacious which is why we hire the best, brightest, and most importantly…kind people. Being kind is not just a personality trait we look for, it’s a core value, embedded in the way we work and how we shape your experience at Abata Therapeutics. Our culture of learning and growth enables everyone to do their best work and contribute to fulfilling our mission. 

The Role:

Abata Therapeutics is currently seeking a highly motivated, self-driven, and creative individual with a deep expertise in immunology, cell therapy and gene engineering and is looking to join an outstanding research team dedicated to translating the biology of regulatory T cells into transformational medicines for patients. This individual will enjoy working in a pioneering, fast-paced and collaborative start-up environment with the opportunity to direct and oversee Early discovery, focused at the intersection of immunology, cell engineering, and cell manufacturing. This individual will join a culture of intellectual rigor, scientific curiosity, and collegiality, cross functionally contributing to research across the organization.

We view the candidate as an important team member whose contributions will be critical to our success in developing new therapeutics to improve the lives of patients.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise by advising experimental design and strategy related to immunology and cell therapy.
• Effectively design, plan, and execute experiments from antigen-driven cell-based immunological assays, to discovering and characterizing several components of novel cell therapies using cell culture, flow cytometry, molecular biology, and genetic engineering techniques to overcome the current limitations to targeted cell therapy.
• Drive projects in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of scientists to develop optimized cell therapy candidates for clinical development
• Contribute meaningfully to building out our internal efforts to advance cell therapy at the forefront of scientific innovation.
• Identify and support external academic and commercial partnerships.
• Communicate data and findings to the scientific team and key stakeholders within the company.
• Help grow an early and ambitious cell therapy company developing therapeutics for currently intractable autoimmune conditions

Requirements and Qualifications:

• PhD in Immunology, Molecular and Cellular Biology or a related discipline with 5 + years of post-PhD experience
• Track record of academic excellence, including first author research publications in high caliber journals.
• Deep knowledge and insight for integrating novel science and emerging technologies in the context of cell therapy and cellular immunology.
• Scientific expertise in receptor engineering with proliferation, fluorescent reporter, and FACS-based read-outs
• Technical expertise with primary human cell culture, cell engineering and multi-parameter flow cytometry
• Experience with cell therapy development (e.g. CAR-T/TCR T cells) is preferred
• Experience in the development of complex cell-based assays
• Experience working with external contract labs (CROs) is a plus
• Highly motivated, innovative, and well-organized
• Engaging and thoughtful team player with excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential given our collaborative approach
• Experience managing or mentoring junior scientists is desirable
• Proven ability to work independently and effectively plan and organize work activities, prioritize tasks, and meet schedule and deadlines

We are an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary and benefits package. All applicants should be legally entitled to work for any employer in the US.

Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited.

This is an on-site position based in the Watertown, MA office and the employee will be required to work in the office on a regular basis.

Abata Therapeutics will require compliance with our COVID- 19 vaccination policy. Please Review our conditions of employment.

Conditions of employment:

All current Abata employees have received the first two rounds of vaccinations against COVID-19. Vaccination status must be confirmed prior to any new hires joining the team. Up to date vaccination is strongly encouraged for every employee who intends to work onsite at our office and lab facility. Should an employee choose not to receive the vaccine, we will seek to understand the facts of their individual circumstance and determine if an appropriate work arrangement can be achieved.