Senior Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

Title: Senior Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

Pay: $45.00- $57.00/hour

Location: Cambridge, MA

Schedule: Standard Office Hours

Duration: 7-Month Contract

Our client is a leading global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for serious neurologic diseases. The Medicinal Chemistry group is seeking a creative and self-motivated organic chemist to join its antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) drug discovery platform. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of synthetic chemistry and cutting-edge biologic therapeutics, contributing to programs that have the potential to transform patient outcomes. The successful candidate will collaborate across cross-functional teams and leverage a strong chemistry background to advance novel conjugate designs from concept through characterization.

Job Responsibilities

In this role, you will manage and support a variety of projects within the Medicinal Chemistry department. Key responsibilities include:

• Joining the medicinal chemistry team and working within a cross-functional, multidisciplinary environment to advance the antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) platform.
• Designing, synthesizing, and purifying functionalized oligonucleotides suitable for antibody bioconjugation.
• Proposing and optimizing novel synthetic and bioconjugation methodologies to support a fast-evolving AOC discovery platform.
• Collaborating closely with colleagues across medicinal chemistry and other departments to solve complex scientific challenges, including reaction optimization, synthetic feasibility assessment, and generation of novel ideas and concepts.
• Actively participating in team discussions and presenting experimental results at internal team meetings.

Essential Job Duties and Job Functions

• Design, plan, execute, and interpret experiments independently with minimal supervision.
• Run multiple reactions in parallel; manage competing priorities efficiently.
• Apply expertise in the synthesis, purification, and characterization of organic and oligonucleotide-based compounds.
• Propose novel chemical strategies and contribute creative solutions to program challenges.
• Maintain thorough and accurate scientific documentation in compliance with laboratory standards.
• Present findings and progress clearly in both written and oral formats to internal stakeholders.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, including synthesis, purification (e.g., HPLC), and characterization (e.g., NMR, LC-MS) of organic compounds.
• Strong problem-solving skills with ability to adapt approaches based on experimental outcomes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to present complex data clearly.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced research environment.
• Demonstrated track record of scientific contributions via publications and/or presentations.
• Experience with antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) or antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) chemistry is a plus.
• Experience with bioconjugation chemistry is a plus.
• Familiarity with drug discovery workflows in an industrial or biotechnology setting is preferred.

Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related discipline with 1-3 years of relevant postdoctoral or industry experience.
• M.Sc. in a relevant field with 8 years of directly applicable industry experience will also be considered.
• A strong foundation in medicinal and/or synthetic organic chemistry is required.