Research Strategy Lead – Bacterial Science And Antigen Design

Research Strategy Lead – Bacterial Science And Antigen Design

As a Research Strategy Lead, you will oversee and drive antigen design projects in the space of bacterial vaccine research and development, and help shape how we deliver innovative, life-changing treatments to millions. Ready to get started?

Join the Global Antigen Design (GAD) team to transform and enable a platform of vaccines for the prevention of diseases worldwide. In GAD/Vaccines, you'll help drive meaningful outcomes in respiratory and chronic diseases, for both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines – with the scale and urgency patients deserve.

We're an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people's lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead scientific strategy and innovation in bacterial antigen discovery and design, contributing to GAD's mission and helping to shape the long-term strategy and scientific roadmap for the function
• Apply deep knowledge of bacterial pathogenesis, reverse vaccinology, OMICs, host-pathogen interactions, and immune evasion mechanisms to identify and validate novel vaccine targets
• Integrate modern protein science approaches—including structural biology, protein engineering, and biophysics—to design optimized antigens with enhanced immunogenicity and stability
• Collaborate closely with internal GAD platforms (virology, computational biology, protein biochemistry and biophysics, monoclonal antibodies, structural biology, and transversal antigen design) to drive integrated research programs
• Partner with internal global immunology teams to align antigen design with immunological insights and translational goals
• Engage with the internal development and mRNA organizations to ensure seamless transition of antigens from discovery to preclinical and clinical development
• Contribute to scientific leadership through mentorship, strategic input, and representation of bacterial science within and beyond GAD
• Stay abreast of emerging scientific trends and technologies in bacteriology, structural vaccinology, and protein design, and apply them to advance the pipeline
• Represents Sanofi externally at scientific forums

About you:

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Structural Biology, Protein Biochemistry, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years post PhD relevant experience in an academic or biopharmaceutical setting
• Demonstrated expertise in bacterial pathogenesis and vaccine antigen discovery and design
• Background in or advanced familiarity with protein science, preferably with focus on structural biology (e.g., X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM) and its application to rational antigen design
• Proven track record of scientific innovation and leadership in cross-functional research environments
• Comfortable working in complex, matrixed environments with global counterparts
• Strong strategic, analytical, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Excellent communication, tact, diplomacy, negotiation, collaboration, and strategic thinking skills

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what's never-been-done-before. You'll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people's lives? Let's Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn't happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let's be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.