Bioconjugation Scientist

About the role

Join a seed-stage techbio startup focused on drug delivery. This role involves leading the creation of new ligands, linkers, and conjugates for targeted delivery. You will work on the Deliveromics Platform Development team, contributing to transformative delivery technologies.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Drive the strategy and execution for chemistry, designing and synthesizing various platform-enabling molecules.
• Lead multi-step organic synthesis, including route scouting, reaction optimization, purification, and scaling up to gram quantities.
• Develop robust bioconjugation methods for coupling small molecules and targeting ligands to diverse biomolecules and nanoparticle components.
• Engineer linker properties to optimize factors like length, valency, stability, and release mechanisms.
• Purify and characterize materials using various analytical techniques to confirm identity, purity, and consistency.
• Collaborate with other scientific teams to integrate new conjugates into formulations and screening processes.
• Provide high-quality test articles for in vitro and in vivo studies, connecting chemical attributes to biological outcomes.
• Build scalable workflows by developing SOPs, specifications, and improving throughput through automation.
• Manage external collaborations with CROs and vendors, maintaining detailed experimental records.

Requirements

• PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, polymer chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field; or an MS/BS with substantial directly relevant industry experience.
• Strong practical experience in multi-step organic synthesis, reaction development, optimization, purification, and structural characterization.
• Demonstrated expertise in bioconjugation or linker chemistry, including selecting reactive handles and chemoselective coupling strategies.
• Experience with analytical and preparative methods like LC-MS, HPLC/UPLC, NMR, and chromatography for identity, purity, and stability assessment.
• Ability to work with both small molecules and biomolecules, including sensitive functional groups and various solvent conditions.
• Excellent experimental judgment, troubleshooting skills, attention to detail, documentation, and scientific communication.
• Resourceful, collaborative, and comfortable taking ownership in a dynamic startup environment.
• Ability to work onsite five days per week in Cambridge, MA.

Nice to have

• Prior experience with non-human primate models.
• Experience with drug delivery systems such as lipid nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, or AAV.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting liquid-handling platforms or automated lab systems.

Skills & tools

• Multi-step organic synthesis
• Bioconjugation
• Linker chemistry
• LC-MS
• HPLC/UPLC
• NMR
• Chromatography
• Aqueous and mixed-solvent chemistry
• Small molecule chemistry
• Biomolecule chemistry
• SOP development
• CRO management

Practical notes

This is an in-person position based in Cambridge, MA. The company offers competitive compensation, meaningful equity, and flexible health benefits. You will have the opportunity to shape core chemistry capabilities and an emerging delivery platform from an early stage.