Here are some basic duties for a synthetic organic chemist research scientist:
With general guidance, organic chemist research scientists are responsible for designing and processing R&D services and preliminary scale-up services for drug discovery projects in order to advance those programs into preclinical development. This field is a great position for new grads with PhDs and some experience in organic synthetic chemistry.
Responsibilities:
- Independently design, plan, and execute experiments for assessing and improving synthetic organic chemistry to APIs in support of projects that are in preclinical development through early clinical development.
- Perform thorough process research and creative route scouting with the goal of route selection within aggressive timelines.
- Independently solve synthetic problems of a moderate scope towards the goal of chemical process development.
- Prepare gram to kilogram quantities of APIs, intermediates, impurities, reference standards, and support such activities at CROs.
- Perform scale-up, purification, process optimization, technology transfer, and process validation activities.
- Prepare tech transfer packages allowing larger-scale preparation.
- Perform route development and optimization, standard preparations, and impurity elucidations.
- Prepare technology transfer documents and provide/present project updates.
- Develop novel and efficient process chemistry strategies and coordinate research strategies and activities with team members.
- Acquire a current understanding of process chemistry literature and methodology, as well as the scientific literature related to the specific drug discovery project.
- Keep an accurate, comprehensible, concise notebook in accordance with company policy.
- Influence the course of projects.
- With general guidance, learn standards and levels of expectations for routine work; design experimental strategies.
- Learn company's discovery process.
- Identify routine obstacles to progress; solve a variety of problems.
- May mentor research associates.
- Support at least one project of defined scope and moderate complexity.
- Represent own research to senior leadership, or for scientific collaborations, or a national scientific conference.
- PhD in Chemistry with thesis and publication(s) OR
- MS in Chemistry with minimum of seven years' of relevant experience and distinguished publication record OR
- BS in Chemistry with minimum of twelve years' relevant experience and distinguished publication record.
- A solid understanding of synthetic organic chemistry.
- A high level of proficiency carrying out multi-step syntheses.
- Working knowledge of modern synthetic methods, spectroscopy, analytical techniques, and scale-up equipment.
- Thorough experience in handling, synthesizing, purifying, and characterizing of complex organic molecules using the latest techniques.
- Experience with route scouting as well as route optimization preferred.
- Familiarity with project management tools.
- Demonstrated independent thought/creativity in science.
- Ability to convey ideas in an experimentally detailed yet scientifically concise manner.
- Excellent communication and multitasking skills.
- Expert knowledge of applicable lab equipment.
- High degree of scientific discretion/intuition.
