Job Description
Job Title: Research Scientist II, Organic Chemistry
Salary: DOE, $124,200-$140,000 along with bonus eligibility and comprehensive benefits package Location: Los Angeles, CA Our Mission The Ellison Medical Institute, formerly known as the Ellison Institute of Technology Los Angeles, strives to spark innovation, leverage technology, and drive interdisciplinary, patient-centered research to continually enhance health, reimagine and redefine cancer care, and transform lives.
Established in 2016 as a medical research and development center, the Institute features innovation labs for artificial intelligence and molecular analytics and was among the first organizations to vertically integrate the interdisciplinary study and treatment of disease. We offer multifaceted programs, including a preventative medicine and cancer clinic, cross-disciplinary research laboratories, a health policy think-tank, and community outreach and educational programs.
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Job Summary The Convergent Systems Research Department is a collaborative team of engineers, scientists, and technicians dedicated to advancing novel therapeutics. We specialize in therapeutic assay development, imaging systems, and advanced analytical tools, driving innovation at every stage—from ideation to synthesis, validation, and standardization.
As the Research Scientist II (Organic Chemistry, Lead), you’ll play a crucial role in designing and synthesizing novel compounds for biomedical applications. Leading chemistry-focused projects, such as developing therapeutic screening tools and synthesizing imaging agents, you’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine chemical strategies and drive healthcare innovation. Your contributions will directly shape translational research and accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics.
Why You Should Join Us: - Drive Scientific Innovation: Contribute to breakthrough advancements in chemistry-driven therapeutics and imaging technologies.
- Collaborate Across Disciplines: Work alongside world-class researchers in chemistry, biology, engineering, and computational sciences.
- Lead Cutting-Edge Research: Play a key role in developing innovative solutions for complex biomedical challenges.
Job Accountabilities: - Synthesis & Chemical Development:
- Design, synthesize, and purify organic and/or inorganic compounds for biological and medicinal applications.
- Apply bioconjugation chemistry and air-sensitive synthetic methods for both solid- and solution-phase chemistry.
- Utilize and optimize purification techniques (e.g., flash chromatography, HPLC) and analytical tools (e.g., LCMS, NMR) to refine synthetic pathways.
- Analytical & Experimental Expertise:
- Select and implement analytical instrumentation and methods to assess photophysical responses (e.g., UV-Vis, Fluorimetry).
- Conduct root cause analysis to troubleshoot and resolve synthesis and instrumentation challenges.
- Design and execute bioactivity and biotoxicity measurements to evaluate compound efficacy and safety.
- Leadership & Scientific Communication:
- Lead laboratory efforts, ensuring strong experimental execution and mentorship of junior scientists.
- Review electronic lab notebooks, analytical methods, derivations, protocols, reports, and SOPs.
- Prepare and present research findings to internal teams and at external scientific meetings.
- Define and implement project plans with clear milestones, ensuring timely progress across multiple initiatives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with computational scientists to integrate molecular modeling and optimization strategies.
- Collaborate with biologists and engineers to translate chemical discoveries into real-world applications.
- Identify emerging opportunities in therapeutic chemistry and contribute to novel research directions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Required: - PhD in Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related field with 2+ years of industry experience, OR MS in the above fields with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
- Strong expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, bioconjugation, and air-sensitive synthetic methods.
- Experience applying purification techniques (e.g., flash chromatography, HPLC) and analytical tools (e.g., LCMS, NMR).
- Proficiency in troubleshooting synthetic reactions and lab instrumentation.
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment.
- Strong communication skills, with experience writing research reports and scientific publications.
Preferred: - 5-7 years of industry experience in chemistry-driven research.
- Direct or collaborative experience with computational methods for molecular design (e.g., reaction optimization, target optimization).
- Experience with mammalian cell culture, tissue culture, or in vivo studies.
- Expertise in optical microscopy techniques, especially fluorescence microscopy.
- Familiarity with automation tools for data analysis and high-throughput screening.
For the safety and health of employees, guests, and patients, the Ellison Medical Institute may mandate vaccination requirements for employment. The Ellison Medical Institute's policies are always subject to review and change to ensure they are appropriate under the circumstances.
The Ellison Medical Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that an inclusive, collaborative team environment is just as important to our mission as stethoscopes and microscopes. We strive to always provide employees a supportive atmosphere, so they feel confident taking creative risks toward innovation. The Ellison Medical Institute values emotional intelligence and communication with empathy and respect for others. We seek to build a diverse group of people who are curious, have a deep sense of responsibility, and the grit needed to achieve excellence.
Job Tags
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