Senior Scientist, Plant Virology

Company Summary:

Terrana Biosciences is one of the latest companies founded through Flagship Pioneering's venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Therapeutics and Evelo Therapeutics were conceived and created. Since Flagship's founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of nearly 100 scientific ventures resulting in $19+ billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents, and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents. Terrana Biosciences is integrating the latest developments in molecular biology and plant biology to create a new platform technology that enables adaptive, targeted and sustainable solutions in agriculture.

Position Summary:

Are you a highly motivated and driven researcher who wants to contribute to developing products for sustainable agriculture? We are seeking a determined, impact-driven, full-time Plant Virologist with an eagerness for continued innovation. The successful candidate will be highly organized and comfortable working as an integral member of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, record-keeping, and teamwork skills will be critical.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Designing and validating a suite of engineered plant viruses.
• Delivering clear, data-driven recommendations that identify field-ready vectors for Terrana's product pipeline.
• Building and using end-to-end viral protocols (e.g., cloning, inoculation, titering, phenotyping, expression analysis, and data capture) that can be run reproducibly.
• Handing off optimized vectors and supporting data packages for greenhouse and small-plot field trials, positioning them for regulatory engagement and commercialization.
• Serving as a key internal and external expert on plant virology, shaping internal platform strategy and forging key collaborations.
• Coaching and mentoring research associates.
• Contributing to a dynamic, exciting culture that embraces teamwork and innovation.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD. in Virology, Plant Pathology, Plant Science, Molecular Biology, or a related field or M.S. plus 8+ years relevant industry/lab experience.

Additional Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success engineering plant viruses as expression or gene-editing vectors.
• Deep knowledge of viral replication, movement, and host-virus interactions.
• Proficiency with molecular cloning, RNA/DNA extraction, qPCR/RT-qPCR, sequencing, and immunodetection methods.
• Experience scaling vector production or running greenhouse/field infection studies.
• Experience in transitioning from product concept to successful commercialization.
• Prior patent filings or technology-transfer experience a plus.
• Clear, concise scientific writing and presentation skills.
• Comfort working in a startup or other fast-moving, resource-constrained environment.

Location: Durham, NC

More About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life sciences companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has, through its Flagship Labs unit, applied its unique hypothesis-driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $50B in aggregate value. To date, Flagship has deployed over $2.2B in capital toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $18B of follow-on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises transformative companies, including Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), Indigo Ag, Invaio Sciences, Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Generate Biomedicines, Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Senda Biosciences and Foghorn Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FHTX).

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

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.