A*STAR

Scientist, Bioconjugation & Targeted RNA Delivery

A*STAR
ResearchSingaporeOnsitePosted 1 month ago

About the role

We seek a highly motivated, results-driven, bench-level scientist with expertise in bioconjugation and targeted delivery to support development of ligand-oligonucleotide conjugates (LOCs) for extrahepatic RNA delivery. The role involves hands-on experimental work, project leadership, design and synthesis of LOCs, collaboration with cross-functional teams, and coordination with CROs.

ResearchOnsite

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and execute conjugation strategies to generate LOCs with optimized delivery profiles.
  • Perform hands-on synthesis, purification, and analytical characterization of LOCs using diverse conjugation chemistries and linker designs.
  • Collaborate closely with oligonucleotide chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to evaluate LOCs in vitro and in vivo.
  • Support CRO coordination and reagent sourcing for ligand libraries and conjugation reagents.
  • Ensure reproducibility and analytical rigor across experimental workflows.
  • Maintain high-quality documentation of experimental procedures, results, and data interpretation.

Requirements

  • Doctorate degree in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Organic/Medicinal Chemistry, or related field.
  • Minimum 2-6 years of relevant industry experience in bioconjugation chemistry applied to LOCs, ADCs, PDCs, or targeted delivery systems.
  • Hands-on experience establishing conjugation chemistries (e.g., Click, lysine-/cysteine-based coupling, enzymatic ligation, stimuli-sensitive linkers) workflows for development of LOCs.
  • Hands-on experience with multiscale purification methods (e.g., preparative RP-HPLC, affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, size exclusion chromatography, tangential flow filtration) and associated instruments.
  • Deep understanding of analytical techniques (e.g., LC-MS, LC-HRMS, CE-SDS, DSC, HIC, NMR) coupled with hands-on experience developing analytical workflows for robust characterization of LOCs.
  • Experience coordinating with CROs and cross-functional program leadership.