Conjugation Scientist

Job Description Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and exceptional chemist for a position within a Discovery Chemistry Department located at a South San Francisco, CA site. The successful candidate will join multidisciplinary, highly collaborative discovery teams to invent novel medicines by applying optimized conjugation protocols, analytical techniques, and data analysis to synthesize drug candidates and intermediates.

Job Responsibilities:

• Perform bioconjugations of linker-payload combinations to antibodies with emphasis on in-house established methods
• Select and apply appropriate purification techniques for biologics (i.e., SEC, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion exchange chromatography)
• Acquire and interpret analytical data such as LC/MS

• Document experimental results and present data to project teams
• Maintain training and compliance in areas of health and safety, security, environmental and operational aspects of daily activities in the working environment

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job at any time.

Critical Skills:

• Working knowledge of bioconjugation and analytical techniques such as HIC, SEC, RP chromatography, SDS-PAGE, and UV-Vis
• Strong foundation in organic chemistry and laboratory synthetic techniques
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills in a team environment
• Ability to learn quickly through on-the-job training and become increasingly skilled and independent in reaction setup, route design, and optimization

Basic Qualifications:

• B.S. or equivalent degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field, with industrial or academic experience with 2+ years of relevant work experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with conjugation, purification, and characterization of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)
• Relevant experience applying organic synthesis to the design, preparation, and optimization of small molecules, linker-payloads, or related intermediates
• Experience independently designing, executing, and optimizing synthetic routes using modern synthetic techniques
• Knowledge of and experience interpreting biological activity data, including structure-activity relationships

Working Environment:

• Must be able to work in a laboratory, controlled environments requiring personal protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses, etc.) in laboratory. 
• Job pace may be fast and job completion demands may be high. Must be able to remain in a stationary position more than 25% of the time.
• The person needs to occasionally move between labs, corridors, adjoining rooms, and buildings onsite.
• Frequently operate on instruments, objects, tools or controls, which will require regularly bending, squatting, stretching and reaching in order to perform in a service function.   
• Occasionally move or lift up to 25 pounds (potential for occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds). 
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include without limitation, the ability to observe details at close range distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus in order to perform the essential service functions of this position.   
• Occasionally operates a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. 
• Employee may be required to handle hazardous waste according to local, state, and federal regulations. 
• Duties may include identifying, handling, generating, accumulating, storing and labeling hazardous waste. 
• Potential risk to lab-based hazards including but not limited to extreme temperature, biological materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• May be required to complete Medical Clearance, Respiratory Protection Training, and Fit Testing to wear a respirator as protection against hazards present in the laboratory environment. 

The annual compensation range for this full-time position is $76,000 to $102,000. The final base pay offered to the successful candidate will be determined by factors including internal equity, work location, as well as individual qualifications, such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.