Scientist, Research Scientist, Immunology Research

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Pledge Therapeutics is an innovative drug discovery engine developing groundbreaking medicines for patients with severe, life‑threatening illnesses. We are advancing multiple first or best‑in‑class small and large molecule therapeutics against challenging drug targets across oncology, virology, immunology, cardiovascular, and kidney diseases.

Our efforts span hit generation to preclinical candidate nomination against targets previously thought undruggable. Our success is based on the rapid translation of a unique platform that integrates structural and biophysical knowledge to accelerate drug development. We work in close collaboration with interdisciplinary research teams and external development partners worldwide, and we are building a hands‑on, resilient team of scientists motivated by scientific ownership and patient impact.

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to contribute across all stages of immuno‑oncology drug discovery at our Canton, MA facility, working directly with the Director of Immuno‑Oncology and the broader team. The role spans target identification through hit‑to‑lead, lead optimization, and IND‑enabling activities. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong technical and communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced startup environment, with scientific ownership and responsibility growing with experience and demonstrated independence.

• Research Design and Execution
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  Develop and execute experimental plans for therapeutic discovery and development, including designing in vitro assays, planning preclinical studies, and optimizing protocols for characterizing novel immunotherapies.
• Data Analysis and Scientific Interpretation
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  Independently analyze experimental results, identify trends and mechanisms of action, and draw conclusions about therapeutic candidates. Generate preclinical data to support critical go/no‑go decisions on programs.
• Literature Review and Scientific Monitoring
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  Stay current with the immuno‑oncology field, including monitoring competitor programs, emerging targets, and novel therapeutic modalities.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
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  Work closely with the team and take on new challenges beyond basic research, including early development, IP generation, and preparation of data for external communication.
• Scientific Communication
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  Prepare internal reports, contribute to research presentations, and develop content for conferences and publications. Communicate complex immunology concepts to non‑scientific stakeholders.
• Mentorship and Team Development
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  Train junior scientists and research associates and help develop their scientific skills.
• Documentation and Regulatory Support
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  Maintain detailed lab notebooks, ensure data integrity, and document experiments according to Good Laboratory Practices. Contribute to regulatory documents including IND submissions with scientific rationale and preclinical data packages.
• Strategic Scientific Input
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  Contribute to target selection, therapeutic modality decisions, and portfolio strategy. Participate in program review meetings, provide scientific perspectives on business opportunities, and help shape the company's research direction based on emerging data.
• Innovation and Problem‑Solving
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  Independently troubleshoot experimental challenges and optimize assays for drug discovery. Drive innovation by proposing novel approaches to overcome therapeutic limitations.

• PhD in Immunology, Oncology, or a related field, with demonstrated experience in immuno‑oncology drug discovery in academic or industry settings.
• Expertise in complex assay development focusing on T cell, NK cell, or myeloid cell function in the context of cancer.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with:
• Immunophenotyping by multi‑color flow cytometry (12+ parameters)
• Primary cell work including PBMCs
• Functional assays: ELISA, ADCC, MLR, cytotoxicity assays
• Cell‑based assays to analyze immune cells
• Western blot
• BSL2 laboratory practices
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and time‑management skills
• Authorization to work in the United States.

• Deep understanding of tumor immunology, cancer biology, and the tumor microenvironment.
• Knowledge of checkpoint biology, T‑cell activation/regulation, and mechanisms of immune evasion.
• Proficiency with data analysis software (Graph Pad Prism, Flow Jo, R, or Python).
• Experience with advanced therapeutic modalities including ADCs, PROTACs, engineered proteins, or small molecules targeting immune pathways.
• Familiarity with syngeneic tumor models and in vivo immunology.
• Track record of scientific publications and conference presentations.

Equal Opportunity Employment