Pillar Therapeutics- Scientist, Conjugation Chemistry

About the role

We are recruiting a Scientist, Conjugation Chemistry to join our discovery stage team. This individual will be responsible for technical planning and production of antibody/peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates for our targeted delivery platform.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement reproducible technical protocols to develop oligonucleotide conjugates for biological evaluation in our targeted delivery platform
• Develop conjugation strategies (cysteine, lysine, glycan, site-specific, etc.) to yield stable and well-characterized oligonucleotide conjugates
• Design and incorporate linker chemistries for oligonucleotide conjugates to optimize PKPD properties
• Assist in internal lab build, procuring and utilizing equipment to enable conjugation and purification of antibody/peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates
• Assist analytical scientists in developing methods (HPLC, MS, etc.) to characterize oligonucleotide conjugates
• Work hand-in-hand with protein engineers and biologists to ensure timely and adequate preparation of oligonucleotide conjugates for biological evaluation as well as contribute to the design of in vitro and in vivo studies
• Contribute to intellectual property around oligonucleotide-conjugates for the company

Requirements

• A degree (BS/MS/PhD) in chemistry, protein engineering, or a related discipline with 3+ years of experience working with antibody, protein, or peptide conjugates in the biopharmaceutical industry; title will be commensurate with level of qualifications and experience
• Experience working with oligonucleotide-based therapeutic modalities such as siRNAs and ASOs is a plus
• Adept in state-of-the-art conjugation (cysteine-maleimide, click chemistry, site-specific, etc.), purification (HPLC, SEC, IEX, etc.), and analytical (HPLC, LCMS, etc.) methods to prepare oligonucleotide conjugates
• While demonstrating creativity to contribute to the development of novel delivery systems, this individual must also be process- and detail-oriented to ensure production of high-quality oligonucleotide conjugates
• Effective communicator and proven team-player, with the ability to operate independently in a laboratory setting

Qualifications

• Highest level of integrity, trustworthiness, humility, adaptability, and flexibility
• Highly organized, thoughtful, and bring sound judgement and technical decision-making abilities
• Collaborative, intellectually curious, driven, and able to lead and work effectively within a highly collaborative, entrepreneurial, and fast-paced start-up environment

Pay

The base salary range reflects our good faith estimate at the time of posting. Final compensation will depend on factors like experience, skills, and location. The role may also be eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentives. Compensation and benefits may be updated in the future.

Salary base range
$120,000 - $170,000 USD