Associate Scientist, Discovery Chemistry - (Medicinal/Organic Chemist)

Position Overview

Nektar Therapeutics has an exciting opening for an Associate Scientist to join our Discovery Chemistry group.

Summary

Nektar Therapeutics has an exciting opening for an Associate Scientist to join our Discovery Chemistry group. We are seeking a talented synthetic, organic chemist with a track record of accomplishments and publications to support the company's research and development efforts to create high value therapeutics to address unmet medical needs.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Independently design and safely synthesize, purify and characterize cleavable and non-cleavable linkers that will be integral to the preparation of novel therapeutics.
• Participate in the development of Nektar's polymer conjugation technology and incorporate polymers into linker designs.

• Facilitate the design of new residue selective linkers by interacting with other chemists and interdisciplinary team members to optimize DMPK, in vitro, and in vivo pharmacology properties.
• Efficiently deliver compounds/polymer conjugates for biological testing or use in developing therapeutics.

• Carry out process development experiments to enable the technology transfer of new scalable, and cost effective routes to linkers and intermediates.
• Monitor and evaluate tasks to meet project time frames.

• Define and work on problems in which analysis of data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors.
• Independently develop approaches and experiments to address complex problems with sound judgment, using multiple data sources and drawing general, non-obvious conclusions.
• Plan and coordinate activities with other team members and actively participate in the implementation of change when required.
• Lead in the use scientific concepts to achieve objectives in creative and effective ways.
• Serve as an in-house consultant for organic and medicinal chemistry techniques, including SAR analysis.
• Interface with various departments, customers and partners, putting work practices into context with larger teams.
• Write reports and protocols and participate in the development of patent applications.

The successful candidate may:

• Assist with implementing organizational systems, identifying capital equipment, and projecting near-term resource requirements.
• Manage and/or provide guidance to junior scientific staff, providing training as needed, and ensure adherence to company policies and quality requirements.
• Act as an internal spokesperson on corporate research/technology/development and advise senior management. May independently represent the Company to outside organizations, when appropriate.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

A PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry. Experience in developing residue selective linkers for protein conjugation would be advantageous. One or more years of work experience in a research and/or development environment is preferred. Post-doctoral work may serve as experience.

The successful candidate must be willing and able to:

• Demonstrate hands-on technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration with others and independent thought.
• Demonstrate independent problem-solving capabilities and sound judgment.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge in scientific principles and concepts with sustained performance and accomplishment.
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team, demonstrating good interpersonal skills.
• Clearly communicate scientific information, both written and oral, with the ability to present technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrate good computer skills; a working knowledge of ChemDraw, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and CambridgeSoft ChemOffice is required.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Nektar Therapeutics will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in the manner proscribed by the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.