Bioconjugation Chemist

**About Us** Grafton Biosciences is a biotech startup focused on solving disease through groundbreaking innovations in early detection and therapeutics. We are combining cutting-edge synthetic biology, machine learning, and manufacturing to fundamentally extend healthy human lifespans. We’re looking for passionate team members who want to shape the future. **About the Role** **What You’ll Do** - **Design & Execute Conjugations**: - Plan and run reactions that couple oligos to peptides, oligos to small molecules, and peptides to small molecules (e.g., click chemistry, amide coupling, thiol-maleimide, strain-promoted cycloadditions, enzymatic ligations). - **Synthesis & Purification**: - Perform solid-phase oligonucleotide and peptide synthesis as needed; purify products via HPLC, FPLC, SEC, and prep LC-MS. - **Analytical Characterization**: - Confirm identity, purity, and stability using LC-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF, UV-Vis, CE, and NMR (as applicable); develop new analytical methods when existing ones fall short. - **Method Development & Optimization**: - Troubleshoot low-yielding steps, improve reaction scalability, and document SOPs for tech transfer to CROs or internal production. - **Cross-Functional Collaboration**: - Translate project goals into actionable chemistry plans, present data at team meetings, and contribute to IP and regulatory filings. - **Lab Stewardship**: - Maintain instrumentation, manage reagent inventories, and ensure safe handling of hazardous chemicals and oligos. **Must-Have Qualifications** - Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, or related discipline **- or** M.S./B.S. plus ≥ 5 years of directly relevant industry experience. - Demonstrated track record (publications, patents, or project reports) of successful oligo-peptide or oligo/small-molecule conjugations. - Strong synthetic toolkit: solution-phase and solid-phase methodologies, linker design, protecting-group strategy, and purification troubleshooting. - Proficiency with analytical platforms: LC-MS (intact & fragmented), HPLC/UPLC method development, UV quantification, and basic spectroscopy. - Familiarity with basic bioassays (e.g., SDS-PAGE, fluorescence, qPCR) to confirm biological activity post-conjugation. - Clear, concise communication skills and a collaborative mindset. **Nice-to-Haves** - Experience scaling conjugates to >10 g under GMP or GLP. - Knowledge of payload/antibody ratio (PAR) or drug/oligo ratio (DOR) analytics. - Familiarity with in-vivo delivery platforms (LNPs, cell-penetrating peptides, GalNAc, etc.). - Hands-on work with high-throughput or automated synthesis (e.g., MerMade, OligoPilot, Multipep). - Prior involvement in IND-enabling studies or CMC documentation. **What We Offer** - Competitive salary plus performance bonus and ample opportunities for career advancement - Medical, dental, and vision coverage from day one - A say in the science—your ideas will directly shape our innovations Pay: ₹1,500,000.00 - ₹2,600,000.00 per year Supplemental Pay: - Performance bonus Application Question(s): - Why are you a fit for this role? - How soon can you begin? Work Location: In person