Senior Scientist

Korro Bio

60 First St, Cambridge, MA 02141 Full-time$160k–$180k / year Posted 4d ago
Market rate. This role pays around the $190k median for similar USD roles (80 comparable postings in our corpus).
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POSITION SUMMARY: Korro Bio is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist to lead our HTS-NGS team in support of our oligonucleotide platform and portfolio projects. This is a hybrid leadership and hands-on role that requires a combination of scientific expertise, team management, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate brings deep technical knowledge in high-throughput cell assays and NGS workflows, along with leadership experience, to lead a key workflow in the identification of RNA editing therapeutics. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Team Leadership •      Lead and mentor a team of scientists performing in vitro biological screening and NGS-based characterization of oligonucleotide therapeutics. •      Set team priorities, coordinate workloads, and ensure timely, high-quality delivery against corporate milestones. •      Foster a collaborative, growth-oriented team culture with a focus on scientific rigor and operational excellence.  Assay Development & Optimization •      Design, develop, and optimize end-to-end molecular biology and NGS workflows, including amplicon-seq and RNA-seq. •      Establish and maintain robust high-throughput cell-based assay platforms in 96- and 384-well formats, including transfection protocols. •      Apply systematic troubleshooting approaches to resolve technical challenges and continuously improve assay performance.  Automation & Technology Integration •      Lead the design, troubleshooting, and qualification of automated liquid handling workflows to maximize throughput and reproducibility. •      Evaluate and implement new instrumentation and technologies to enhance the capabilities of the HTS-NGS platform, eventually developing a fully automated system. •      Oversee QC instrumentation usage and data integrity across the team (Qubit, TapeStation, Fragment Analyzer).  Cross-Functional Collaboration •      Partner closely with Chemistry, Data Science, and Biology teams to align assay outputs with downstream analytical needs and project objectives. •      Communicate results clearly and proactively to stakeholders across functions, including through written reports and presentations. Operational & Data Management •      Champion LIMS adoption and data quality standards using Benchling. •      Utilize project management tools (e.g. Jira / Confluence) to track progress, manage timelines, and communicate status. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: •      PhD with 4+ years, MS with 12+ years or equivalent industry experience in cell biology, molecular biology, genomics, or a related field. •      Prior experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical environment is required. •      Demonstrated track record of managing scientists to achieve research and operational goals. •      Hands-on expertise with cell culture in 96- and 384-well formats, including transfection methodologies. •      Comprehensive end-to-end NGS experience: amplicon-seq, RNA-seq, library preparation, QC, and sequencing run execution. Expertise with Illumina sequencing platforms preferred (MiSeq). •      Expertise in core molecular biology techniques: RNA/DNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, and gel electrophoresis. •      Experience with liquid handling automation systems, including Viaflo 96/384, HiRes/Certus Flex, and/or Tempest. •      LIMS experience, preferably with Benchling. •      Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data quality and scientific reproducibility. •      Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to distill complex technical information for diverse audiences. •      Collaborative team player who thrives in a dynamic, cross-functional biotech environment. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: •      Experience with project management tools such as Jira and Confluence. •      Familiarity with QC instrumentation: Qubit, TapeStation, and Fragment Analyzer. •      Experience with screening siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, or similar constructs a strong plus.

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