Scientist, Chemistry

Job Title: Scientist, Chemistry
Location: San Diego, California
Position type: Full Time
Required education: Ph.D. in organic/medicinal chemistry, biotechnology or related discipline
Area(s) of expertise: Organic synthesis, bioconjugation, oligonucleotide delivery, siRNA, ASO

Company Description
At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in bringing potentially life-changing therapeutics to patients in need. Avidity is pioneering a new class of oligonucleotide-based therapies called AOCs designed to overcome the current limitations of oligonucleotide therapies to treat a wide range of diseases. We utilize our proprietary AOC platform to design, engineer and develop transformative therapeutics that combine the tissue selectivity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and the precision of oligonucleotide-based therapies to access previously undruggable tissue and cell types and more effectively target underlying genetic drivers of diseases. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, come make a difference with us.

Job Description
We are seeking a creative Scientist to join our team in San Diego. The successful candidate will play a key role expanding Avidity’s AOC oligonucleotide delivery platform. The position will shape research strategies, experimentally evaluate technologies, design molecules, and implement chemical solutions to create next generation AOCs. This person should be a strong team player, clear communicator, enjoys scientific discovery and works effectively in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment. The ideal candidate will have biotech/pharma experience with oligonucleotide and bioconjugate therapeutics. The candidate should demonstrate expertise in challenges facing oligonucleotide chemistry, tissue targeted delivery, and intracellular delivery.

Primary Responsibilities:
• Identify technologies and devise approaches to assess their utility in enhancing AOC delivery.
• Design and synthesize linkers to facilitate bioconjugation of pharmacologically active moieties
• Utilize modern bioconjugation and purification techniques to produce next generation AOCs
• Establish analytical methods to confirm and characterize novel oligonucleotide conjugates
• Effectively collaborate with internal and external partners to meet project timelines
• Contribute to efforts to elucidate the mechanisms of AOC delivery
• Act as chemistry SME in project teams to optimize oligonucleotide conjugates for potency, stability, and related pharmacologic properties
• Contribute to project teams to develop sound strategies with key decision points to advance discovery projects through critical preclinical stage gates.
• Clearly communicate research results in both oral and written formats

Required Experience & Skills:
• Extensive hands-on bioconjugation experience of antibody, protein, peptide, and small molecule ligands
• Experience with bioconjugation of oligonucleotides to other modalities (e.g., antibody, protein, peptide, or carbohydrates)
• Demonstrate expertise on the mechanisms of and challenges with delivery of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics
• Possess working knowledge of drug discovery activities relevant to oligonucleotides: screening, in vitro & in vivo pharmacology, ADME, PK/PD, and toxicology.
• Deep understanding of intracellular pathways of oligonucleotide bioconjugates is a plus

Job Posting
• Expert in the purification and characterization biomolecules and bioconjugates of protein, antibody, peptide, and oligonucleotides.
• Proficient with laboratory techniques: SDS-PAGE, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and chromatography techniques (ion exchange, size exclusion, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, etc.) using FPLCs, HPLCs, and LCMS.
• Experience with automated synthesis of peptides and oligonucleotides is highly desirable
Qualifications, Required Experience & Skills:
• Ph.D. in organic chemistry, chemical biology, biotechnology or related discipline with experience in oligonucleotide, antibody, and bioconjugation
• 0-3+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience; M.S. with 7-10+ years of experience in biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical settings
• Proven ability to conduct self-directed research, and to work effectively in a dynamic team environment with diverse views

Salary Range: $114,000-$130,000