Senior Research Scientist, Lipid Chemistry

Job Description

General Summary:

The Senior Scientist, Lipid Chemist for Non-Viral Delivery, is responsible for experimental productivity and emerging creativity and versatility. The Senior Research Scientist designs and executes elaborate experiments for major research projects. Responsibilities may include the design and synthesis of lipids within a project. Demonstrates resourcefulness in running multiple activities concurrently, all related to achievement of goals/objectives. Adapts to new projects rapidly and to multiple projects effectively ensuring alignment with corporate goals. The Senior Research Scientist commands a broad perspective and a deep knowledge of related disciplines, possesses diverse project experience and a broad understanding of the literature.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, synthesize and characterize novel lipids and lipid libraries with therapeutically relevant properties for LNP-mediated gene delivery.
• Analyze and characterize lipid chemistries, modifications, and/or chemical features in relation to overall LNP performance in vitro and in vivo.
• Distills complicated, multidimensional data to clear hypotheses and new experimental directions.
• Work closely with CRO collaborations to enhance and accelerate lipid library construction, synthesis, analysis, and/or manufacturing.
• Prioritizes own studies within projects and balances activities across projects effectively.
• Design, synthesize and characterize unique conjugation handles for targeted gene delivery.
• Meet established deadlines.
• Maintain clear and complete ELN-based experimental records.
• Present and share results with the broader team of scientists and cross-functional meetings.
• Contributes to patent and publication preparation.

Knowledge and Skills:

• A strong track record of developing medicinal chemistry-based approaches to design and synthesize novel lipid libraries.
• Demonstrated exemplary skills in all aspects of modern organic and medicinal chemistry, including data analysis, parallel library design and synthesis, structure-based design, and analytical and purification methods.
• Well oriented with lipid, LNP and non-viral gene delivery related literature and progress.
• Extensive experience with synthesizing linkers with various click handles.
• Well versed with different bioconjugation strategies and optimizations thereof for proteins/peptides, antibodies, lipids, LNPs, oligonucleotides and other biomolecules.
• Extensive experience implementing routine and advanced analytical methods to characterize structures and purities of synthetic compounds, including but not limited to HPLC-CAD, LC/MS, NMR.
• In-depth experience in various purification techniques including various liquid chromatography methods (e.g., RP, IEX, SEC, HIC, affinity, FPLC) and membrane filtrations.
• Strong analytical attitude and problem-solving with creative outlook.
• Strong team player, fostering cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced biotech setting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, for both technical and more general audience.

Education and Experience:

• PhD (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 2-5 years of relevant post-doctoral employment experience, or
• Master's degree (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 5+ years of relevant employment experience, or
• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 8+ yr relevant employment experience.

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com