Principal, Medicinal Chemistry

Research & Development

Cambridge, MA

ID: 26R-08

Full-Time/Regular

This position is currently based in our Cambridge, MA office. Please note that our offices will be relocating to Waltham, MA later this year, and this role will transition accordingly. We follow a flexible, “magnet not mandate” approach to in-office work, encouraging collaboration and onsite engagement while supporting hybrid flexibility based on role and business needs.

Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million.

At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them.

Our tenacious, passionate employees’ challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease.

This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you?

Job Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced medicinal chemist in our research facility in Cambridge. You will be responsible for applying state-of-the-art medicinal and synthetic chemistry expertise to advance small-molecule drug discovery programs toward the clinic and provide support for existing programs in pre-clinical development. The successful candidate will be a key part of a dynamic interdisciplinary team that includes DMPK, biology, pharmacology, structure-based drug design, and toxicology. She/he will be responsible for conducting internal chemistry research while potentially also directing external, contract research organization (CRO)-driven activities.

Responsibilities

• Possess strong synthetic organic chemistry expertise and apply the latest scientific methodologies to solve challenging medicinal chemistry problems.
• Design and synthesize molecules with druglike properties, using knowledge of SAR, ADME, PK, and in-silico and in-vitro predictors for multiparameter optimization.
• Use modelling software to facilitate structure-based drug design (SBDD) efforts.
• Intellectually and technically lead internal research efforts in medicinal chemistry
• Support the advancement of lead compounds through in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation to identify clinical development candidates.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage research activities conducted at CROs.
• Engage collaboratively with Akebia research staff, scientific advisors, consultants, and the larger scientific community.
• Establish clear project goals and define scientific strategies to achieve these goals and generate testable hypotheses to facilitate decision making.
• Draft research papers for scientific journals and conferences and assist in preparing patent applications.
• Serve as the chemistry representative on cross functional project teams of high priority
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• PhD. or MS in chemistry
• Knowledge of ADME/PK, enzymology, biochemistry, biology, and pharmacology sufficient to enable interpretation of data and application to the design of new analogs
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph D. or MS in Chemistry
• 8 years of industrial experience
• Experience working on a diverse range of drug targets and structure-based drug design is desirable.
• Experience with fragment based lead discovery and covalent inhibitors
• Demonstrated ability to solve challenging problems and produce innovative science, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, patents, and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Ability to manage CROs carrying out ADME/PK, enzymology, biochemistry and pharmacology experiments
• Proven ability to think independently while simultaneously operating in a collaborative, matrixed environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to rapidly generate clear and concise reports, papers, and presentations.
  
  

Compensation

Targeted Base: $167,504 - $206,917*

• Base Compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience, and may fall outside of the range shown. Base pay is only one component of the company’s total rewards package, all regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or the incentive compensation program (if applicable), as well as equity. Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, etc.
  
  

Are you an Akebian?

An Akebian is curious, empathetic, and values making connections to people and ideas. Akebian’s aren’t afraid of diving in and owning a process or a problem, because we all want to deliver a great solution. Akebian’s believe that we are better together because we are all working toward a common purpose – to better the life of each person impacted by kidney disease. Want to learn more about what it means to be an Akebian? Visit our website: www.akebia.com

Akebia is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all job applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.