Senior Scientist - Enhanced Lung

Who We Are

We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation. Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs.

United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR) seeks to travel down the corridors of indifference to develop treatments for rare, deadly diseases. We were founded in 1996 by a family seeking a cure for their daughter’s pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Today, we have six FDA-approved therapies that treat PAH, pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer. Our near-term pipeline seeks to develop additional therapies for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

The cure for end-stage life-threatening diseases like PAH, PH-ILD, PF, and many others is an organ transplant, but only a small percentage of donated organs are available to address the vast need. For this reason, we are working to create manufactured organs to address the shortage of kidneys, hearts, lungs, and livers available for transplant. We believe an unlimited supply of tolerable, transplantable organs will eliminate the transplant waiting list and cure end-stage organ diseases for which transplant is not currently an option.

The Enhanced Lung Program focuses on developing novel technologies to enhance donor lung performance and improve transplant outcomes. Our scientists work at the intersection of organ perfusion, gene therapy, and bioengineering to modify and optimize lungs outside the body prior to transplantation.

Who you are

This is science you can feel proud of. As a Senior Scientist on our Enhanced Lung program, you’ll be hands‑on driving gene modification strategies that move engineered and donor lungs closer to real clinical impact. This role is about designing smart experiments, running them with purpose, and translating results that matter—across EVLP systems, vector delivery, and functional validation. You’ll collaborate deeply across disciplines, mentor growing scientists, and play a critical role in bringing bold ideas into execution. If you thrive on ownership, love solving complex biological problems, and want your work to meaningfully advance patient care, this is the kind of role where your science truly counts.

The Senior Scientist will play an important technical role in advancing gene modification strategies for ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) and enhanced lung development. This individual will design, execute, and interpret studies focused on vector delivery, gene editing, transduction optimization, and translational functional validation within engineered or donor lungs. The role requires strong hands-on expertise in gene therapy or a closely related field and the ability to operate within a cross-functional translational team.

• Plan and oversee gene delivery strategies (AAV, lentiviral, adenoviral, mRNA/LNP, or other platforms) in lung tissue models and EVLP systems
• Optimize transduction efficiency, durability of expression, and safety profiles
• Support preclinical large-animal studies, including experimental design and data analysis
• Develop and validate molecular and functional assays (qPCR, ddPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, multiplex assays, etc.)
• Collaborate cross-functionally with device, manufacturing, analytical, and regulatory teams
• Contribute to IND-enabling studies and regulatory documentation
• Mentor junior scientists and research associates
• Contribute to publications and patent submissions, protocols, abstracts, posters, etc. and other publication development
• Present data internally and externally
• Assist with EVLP

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in molecular biology, gene therapy, virology, biomedical engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of related biotech/pharma industry experience with a Master's Degree or 5+ years of related biotech/pharma industry experience with a PhD
• Experience with viral vector systems (AAV, LVV, AdV) or non-viral gene delivery platforms
• Strong data analysis and experimental design skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced translational environment
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to mentor and motivate team members
• Highly self-motivated
• Ability to organize and present data

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in molecular biology, gene therapy, virology, biomedical engineering, or related field
• Experience with lung biology, transplant models, or EVLP
• Industry experience
• Experience working with human tissue

Job Location

This role is based at our Silver Spring, MD location.

At United Therapeutics, our mission and vision are one. We use our enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence to innovate for the unmet medical needs of our patients and to benefit our other stakeholders. We are bold and unconventional. We have fun, do good.

About Us

We strive to be an organization that engages the minds, hearts, and most spirited efforts of each of our employees. Our sense of purpose transforms what we do from work into mission, occupation into vocation and achievement into success.

We challenge our employees with innovative and revolutionary projects, offer an environment which fosters high-level job performance and provide a highly competitive total rewards package. This is what makes United Therapeutics a stimulating place to work.