Scientist – Discovery Pharmacology

At Insmed, every moment and every patient counts — and so does every person who joins in. As a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, you’ll be part of a community that prioritizes the human experience, celebrates curiosity, and values every person’s contributions to meaningful progress. That commitment has earned us recognition as Science magazine’s No. 1 Top Employer for five consecutive years, certification as a Great Place to Work® in the U.S., and a place on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list in the UK.

For patients, for each other, and for the future of science, we’re in. Are you?

About the Role:

We’re looking for a Scientist, Discovery Pharmacology on the Research team to help us expand what’s possible for patients with serious diseases. Reporting to the Senior Director, Research, you’ll contribute to the development, optimization, and validation of in vitro assay cascades to support candidate screening and progression. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to validate therapeutic targets, identify and characterize biomarkers, investigate mechanisms of action, and support the analysis and interpretation of data generated from in vivo studies.

What You'll Do:

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to play a key role in advancing drug discovery programs from target validation through candidate selection. You’ll also:

• Culture, maintain, and characterize relevant cell types, including primary cells and mammalian cell lines such as neutrophils, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, mouse bone marrow progenitors, PLB-985 cells, and other relevant cell lines for in vitro/ex vivo assays.

• Support the development, optimization, validation, and execution of in vitro assay cascades, including cell-based and functional assays, to assess compound activity, efficacy, selectivity, and off-target potential, and provide data-driven recommendations to support candidate drug progression and project decision-making.

• Perform and optimize neutrophil functional assays, including neutrophil extracellular trap formation assays and flow cytometry-based assays, to characterize compound activity, support efficacy validation, and enable candidate drug prioritization.

• Perform fluorescence microscopy imaging and quantitative image analysis, partnering with computational scientists to advance and implement high-throughput, AI-driven imaging and analytics workflows.

• Design, plan, and execute mechanism-of-action studies leveraging gene expression profiling and protein-based analytical platforms to elucidate biological pathways and characterize target engagement and downstream effects.

• Support downstream analyses from in vivo studies, including sample collection, processing, and ex vivo characterization using flow cytometry, ELISA, Western blotting, imaging-based assays, and other relevant analytical techniques.

• Maintain accurate, detailed, and timely electronic laboratory records, including experimental procedures, method development, raw data, analyses, and study summaries. Prepare technical reports and presentations as needed.

• Perform data quality control, statistical analyses, and data visualization to ensure data integrity and support decision-making using tools such as Excel, XLfit, GraphPad Prism, and FlowJo.

• Conduct critical reviews of scientific literature to support experimental design, target validation, biomarker strategies, and program development.

• Ensure proper operation, calibration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

• Present scientific findings and experimental updates at internal team meetings and external scientific forums as needed. 

Who You Are:

You have a PhD along with 2 years of experience or MS and 7 years of experience in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, or a related field.

You are or you also have:

• Strong foundation and proven expertise in innate immunity, and in particular neutrophil biology, are required.

• Must have hands-on experience in primary and mammalian cell culture and standard molecular and cellular biology techniques, with demonstrated expertise in the development, optimization, and execution of in vitro assays to support target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, and therapeutic candidate evaluation.

• Must have hands-on expertise in imaging techniques such as fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, and high-content imaging systems. In this context, experience in conducting NET formation assays in primary cells is a plus.

• Clear, effective communication (verbal and written) and strong problem-solving skills are required.

• A high degree of organization and time management skills, with meticulous attention to detail to ensure clarity, accuracy, and concision, are required.

• A strong sense of enthusiasm, autonomy, and self-motivation is required.

• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently in a team environment is essential.

• Must successfully exhibit Insmed’s five (5) core corporate values: Passion, Accountability, Collaboration, Integrity and Respect.

Nice to have (but not required):

• Familiarity with disease areas including respiratory, immune-mediated, and autoimmune diseases is a strong plus.

• External recognition of writing and presentation skills is a plus.

Where You’ll Work

This role is based out of our Bridgewater, NJ office and requires full-time, in-person presence to support hands-on collaboration, access specialized equipment, and/or operational needs.

Travel Requirements

Minimal travel expected

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Pay Range:

$103,000.00-131,000.00 Annual

Life at Insmed
 

At Insmed, you’ll find a culture as human as our mission—intentionally designed for the people behind it. You deserve a workplace that reflects the same care you bring to your work each day, with support for how you work, how you grow, and how you show up for patients, your team, and yourself.

Highlights of our U.S. offerings include:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage and mental health support, annual wellbeing reimbursement, and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Generous paid time off policies, fertility and family-forming benefits, caregiver support, and flexible work schedules with purposeful in-person collaboration

• 401(k) plan with a competitive company match, annual equity awards, and participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and company-paid life and disability insurance

• Company Learning Institute providing access to LinkedIn Learning, skill building workshops, leadership programs, mentorship connections, and networking opportunities

• Employee resource groups, service and recognition programs, and meaningful opportunities to connect, volunteer, and give back

Eligibility for specific programs may vary and is subject to the terms and conditions of each plan. 

Current Insmed Employees: Please apply via the Jobs Hub in Workday.

Insmed Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please refer to our Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Statement on our Careers site.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Unsolicited resumes from agencies should not be forwarded to Insmed. Insmed will not be responsible for any fees arising from the use of resumes through this source. Insmed will only pay a fee to agencies if a formal agreement between Insmed and the agency has been established. The Human Resources department is responsible for all recruitment activities; please contact us directly to be considered for a formal agreement.

Insmed is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application   or interview process, please contact us by email at [email protected]  and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Applications are accepted for 5 calendar days from the date posted or until the position is filled.