Senior Scientist, Organic Chemistry & Antibody Conjugation

At Nautilus, we have a big and important mission: improve the health of millions by unleashing the potential of the proteome to accelerate drug development and enable a new world of precision and personalized medicine. We are developing a single-molecule protein analysis platform of unprecedented sensitivity, scale, and ease of use that we believe will democratize access to the proteome – one of the most dynamic and valuable sources of biological insight. To accomplish this, we are pursuing hard scientific problems with an entrepreneurial mindset and creating a world-class team of builders, innovators, and dreamers across a wide range of disciplines.  We are hiring a Senior Scientist who specializes in chemistry and conjugation of antibodies to join our growing team. In this role, you will be part of a high-performing, dynamic R&D team working on the development of reagents for a novel technology platform that will enable characterization of the proteome at single molecule resolution. The successful candidate will be a flexible and collaborative self-starter with extensive experience in designing, executing, analyzing, and interpreting experiments. Reporting results to multidisciplinary teams is required for this role. Strong troubleshooting skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail are essential. The ideal candidate will be adaptable and thrive in a startup environment.  

Responsibilities

• Invent, develop and optimize methods to build novel conjugates that combine bright fluorescent labels with Nautilus’ antibodies and aptamers, collectively called probes, into high-affinity detection reagents 
• Work extensively with our Reagents R&D, Protein Discovery, and Formulations teams to implement strategies that enable site-specific conjugation and optimal presentation of the attached probes 
• Design methods for conjugating standard recombinant antibodies to create high-affinity detection reagents 
• Contribute to the design of experiments cross-functionally to evaluate the performance of conjugates on the Nautilus platform 
• Work with our Sample Preparation and Reagents teams to design novel chemical linkers, moieties, and Plan and evaluate synthetic routes for compounds of interest, if needed 
• Synthesize and/or work with synthesis CROs to bring new chemistries and compounds in-house, if needed 
• Design and carry out assays for both analytical and functional QC of small molecule compounds, conjugates, and complex reagents 
• Collaborate with our Formulation and Production teams to refine and transfer protocols 

Requirements

• PhD plus 2-4 years industry experience or BS/MS plus 8-10 years industry experience 
• Deep experience with chemistry, especially as applied to orthogonal bioconjugation chemistry, chromatography and analytical techniques including HPLC, MS, LC/MS, and NMR 
• Experience in the synthesis and evaluation of reagents for use in antibody, protein, or peptide conjugates, including understanding of how modifications may impact function 
• Hands-on experience with conjugation, purification, and characterization of conjugates Experience with complex affinity reagents preferred (polymeric compounds, nanoparticles, etc.Ability to effectively multitask and work in a fast-pace, goal-oriented environment 
• Highly organized with exquisite attention to detail  
• Self-motivated, driving projects forward to meet deadlines 
• Willingness to work collaboratively within a team as well as independently 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Agile-like approach to development 

Nautilus Team Culture

• We are curious go-getters: this is a team of life-long learners who aren’t afraid to tackle the big challenges and we embrace the journey 
• We are detail oriented: we do great science by working smart & with diligence where we learn from our trials and mistakes 
• We are easy to work with: we want our workplace to be one where everyone can share their perspective and be treated with respect and kindness 

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