Senior Scientist, Library Development Chemistry
Plexium, United States

Plexium is a San Diego-based targeted protein degradation drug discovery company whose purpose is to discover and develop impactful therapies changing the course of human disease. We are a close-knit team of drug discovery and engineering experts using pioneering platform technologies to discover and develop transformative new drug modalities. Plexium has an open work environment with a positive, friendly, and collaborative culture. We are committed to fostering innovation and encouraging cross-functional collaboration and supporting the growth and development of our team members.

We are seeking a Principal Scientist, Library Development and Encoding Chemistry to be part our drug discovery team. This role entails playing a leading role in designing libraries, devising robust synthetic protocols for new solid-phase drug-like libraries (including DNA-encoded libraries), and demonstrating them in pilot libraries, ensuring compatibility with DNA-encoding (when present) and generating library production SOPs that will be used by our Library Production team. As such, this role requires seamless integration with the Library Production team, the DNA sequencing group and drug discovery project teams. Additionally, the role will include developing the range and type of chemistries that can be adapted to solid-phase DNA-encoded libraries to allow greater access to diverse drug-like chemical space. Mentoring of less experienced chemistry colleagues and interfacing with external chemistry CROs will also be expected.

The successful candidate will have:

• Broad and deep laboratory experience in designing and implementing routes to drug-like chemical scaffolds and efficiently reducing them to practice
• Excellent knowledge of modern synthetic chemistry reactions and techniques, including familiarity with adapting these to parallel medicinal chemistry and/or large scale libraires
• Experience developing new library protocols both in solution and, preferably, on solid phase
• Excellent scientific problem-solving skills and a track record of bringing forward successful innovative solutions to chemistry problems
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, and embrace working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced, innovative environment, working to project priorities and deadlines
• Design of libraries and development of synthetic routes to them for Plexium’s Targeted Protein Degradation platform
• Development and implementation of library synthesis protocols that meet their design objectives and that are robust and ready to transfer to the Library Production team
• Actively contributing to establishing a seamless working interface with the Library Production team, the DNA sequencing group, drug discovery teams and other members of the chemistry department through a collaborative and flexible approach
• Ensuring that library chemistries are compatible with DNA-encoding and DNA integrity, per individual library requirements
• Developing or adapting novel chemistries to solid-phase and/or DNA-encoded libraries to significantly expand the diversity of drug-like chemical space that can be accessed by libraries

Specific Responsibilities include:

• Design of libraries and development of synthetic routes to them for Plexium’s Targeted Protein Degradation platform
• Development and implementation of library synthesis protocols that meet their design objectives and that are robust and ready to transfer to the Library Production team
• Actively contributing to establishing a seamless working interface with the Library Production team, the DNA sequencing group, drug discovery teams and other members of the chemistry department through a collaborative and flexible approach
• Ensuring that library chemistries are compatible with DNA-encoding and DNA integrity, per individual library requirements
• Developing or adapting novel chemistries to solid-phase and/or DNA-encoded libraries to significantly expand the diversity of drug-like chemical space that can be accessed by libraries

Requirements

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage
• 401K
• Generous vacation policy
• Stock options

Job Rewards and Benefits