Principal Scientist, Women's Health & Preeclampsia

Company Summary:

ProFound™ Therapeutics is a biotechnology company discovering novel proteins across the expanded human proteome to unlock first-in-class medicines and transformative drug targets. The company’s proprietary ProFoundry™ Platform integrates state-of-the-art protein detection, validation, and computational technologies to systematically identify and characterize previously inaccessible proteins and validate their therapeutic potential. This approach has generated a rapidly expanding portfolio of novel targets and programs advancing toward the clinic, along with strategic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical partners. Together, these efforts support the development of breakthrough treatments across a broad range of disease areas. For more information, please visit www.profoundtx.com.

Position Summary:

ProFound Therapeutics is seeking an exceptional Principal Scientist to lead and support discovery efforts in Women’s Health, with a focus on preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This role contributes to shaping the company’s early-stage pipeline by providing scientific leadership, strategic thinking, and translational rigor across target validation and disease biology.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in preeclampsia and related vascular or placental biology, a passion for uncovering novel disease mechanisms, and a demonstrated ability to design and execute mechanistic studies that bridge in vitro and in vivo models. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role operating with a high degree of scientific autonomy and influence.

This role works closely with platform scientists, computational biologists, drug discovery teams, and external collaborators to identify, validate, and advance novel therapeutic targets toward drug development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide scientific leadership for discovery research in preeclampsia and hypertension in pregnancy by designing, executing, and interpreting mechanistic studies using state-of-the-art experimental models and technologies.
• Lead target validation efforts informed by proteomic and computational insights; develop hypotheses, assess risk, and prioritize targets with strong translational potential.
• Partner closely with computational biology and proteomics teams to apply AI-enabled approaches to large-scale datasets (e.g., proteomic, transcriptomic, genetic) and generate novel biological insights.
• Design and oversee in vitro and in vivo disease models to support target biology, biomarker development, and proof-of-concept studies.
• Contribute meaningfully to building and refining the company’s therapeutic strategy in Women’s Health, including scientific decision-making and portfolio discussions.
• Communicate scientific findings clearly and effectively in cross-functional forums, external collaborations, and presentations to senior leadership.
• Support or lead external academic and industry collaborations, including scientific strategy, execution oversight, and data integration.
• Operate in a hybrid role, with approximately 75% focus on scientific leadership, strategy, and collaboration, and 25% hands-on laboratory work, as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Physiology, Cell Biology, or a related discipline; postdoctoral training and/or industry experience strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of relevant postdoctoral and/or industry experience, consistent with Senior Principal Scientist-level impact and scope.
• Deep understanding of disease mechanisms and translational models in one or more of the following areas: preeclampsia, hypertension, placental development and function, or related biology.
• Hands-on expertise in cellular and molecular biology techniques (e.g., CRISPR, ELISA, qPCR, Western blotting, RNA-seq) and assay development.
• Experience with in vitro and/or in vivo models relevant to the study of pregnancy and related disorders.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate multi-omic and/or genetic data into experimental design and biological interpretation.
• Strong track record of scientific contributions, including publications, patents, and/or scientific presentations.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in early-stage biotech or drug discovery environments.
• Familiarity with target identification and validation workflows.
• Experience working with human tissue samples, iPSC-derived systems, and/or organoid models.

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.