Scientist III, Discovery Chemistry (Peptide Synthesis)

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ARWR) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.

Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.

The Position

Arrowhead is seeking a highly motivated Scientist to join our discovery chemistry team at its San Diego site. The successful candidate will primarily focus on peptide synthesis and analysis. As a discovery chemist, you will play a pivotal role in the development and optimization of siRNA-based therapeutics by leveraging your expertise in peptide chemistry.

This role is onsite 5 days a week in San Diego.

Responsibilities

- Independently design, execute, and troubleshoot solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) workflows using both automated and manual techniques

- Purify and analyze peptides using chromatography and mass spectrometry

- Analyze and integrate chemical, biological, and pharmacokinetic data to establish SAR and guide compound design

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance delivery platform development

Requirements

- PhD (0-2 years of experience) or masters degree (5+ years of experience) in chemistry or a related field

- Hands-on experience operating automated peptide synthesizers

- Demonstrated experience in the design, synthesis, and characterization of macrocyclic and/or bicyclic peptides, including the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids and backbone modifications

- Proficiency with a wide range of analytical techniques, especially HPLC & LCMS

- Strong scientific problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently design and troubleshoot experiments.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present scientific data, interpretations, and recommendations to cross-functional teams.

Preferred

- Experience with high throughput screening technologies (phage display, mRNA display, DEL, OBOC etc.)

- Familiar with biophysical assays for characterization of biomolecular interactions

- Experience applying structure activity relationship (SAR) principles to peptides for hit to lead optimization

California pay range $120,000 — $130,000 USD
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.

Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.

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