PostDoc in Medicinal Chemistry

The Position

In Roche´s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organisation (pRED), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

The Medicinal Chemistry Team in Pharma Research and Early Development, located in Basel, is part of Small Molecule Research. We are a community of drug hunters with expertise in synthesis, design and purification, with a responsibility to convert hypotheses into innovative small molecules for treating diseases of high unmet medical need, closely collaborating with our broader therapeutic areas and functions.

Your Mission

In your role as a PostDoc in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be working on accelerating compound synthesis through automation technology and digitalization. You will be focussing on expanding the implementation of innovative technologies high-throughput experimentation, late-stage functionalization). This requires the introduction of new synthetic methodologies and techniques, including reaction miniaturization, photochemical transformations, small-scale purification and analytical methodology development. Thereby you will also contribute to generating high-quality reaction datasets for machine learning applications.

Your Impact

You devise and implement state-of-the-art scientific research by conducting laboratory experiments. By designing, planning and executing multi-step organic synthesis and purification of high-quality target molecules for biological screening you maintain a high level of productivity in the laboratory setting.

You predominantly design and run high-throughput experiments on a miniaturized scale using automation equipment. Thereby you continuously implement new methodologies and innovative technologies to expand the current capabilities.

You build up photo-redox high-throughput experimentation to rapidly screen various different chemistries with low material consumption.

You propose and implement innovative and pragmatic solutions to synthetic and technical problems.

You closely collaborate with project teams to influence and guide the opportunities of late-stage functionalization, library synthesis, and other digital and/or automation applications.

You work on cutting-edge innovation at the crossroads of automation, digitalization, medicinal chemistry and compound synthesis.

Your Profile

We are looking for a graduated PhD student who will be available to join our department between July and September 2024. The candidate should possess a very strong background in high-throughput experimentation to accelerate the synthesis of chemical matter for Medicinal Chemistry. In particular, the candidate should bring:

Demonstrated ability to set up and lead the high-throughput experimentation (HTE) operations in a renowned academic lab.

Excellent expertise in automation technology and maintenance of the equipment, especially solid dosing and liquid handling connecting with state-of-the-art analytical and purification methodologies.

Strong background in synthetic methodology development with a focus on photo-redox chemistry, amine synthesis and organometallic reactions 

Passion for small molecule synthesis and hands-on chemistry experimentation in the laboratory.

Preferentially one year of professional experience in the industry within a strong synthetic environment.

Solid understanding of machine learning concepts for reaction prediction and associated data set requirements. Experience of collecting reaction datasets for machine learning.

Excellent communication and presentation skills combined with strong interpersonal abilities to build meaningful relationships across the department and project teams.

Our commitment

Roche commits to recognising talent and aptitude. We prioritize encouraging and supporting our employees in their personal journeys by providing a safe, creative space to help them reflect, make decisions and grow in their careers. We are confident that we find the most innovative solutions by gaining different perspectives, asking and answering complex questions, and challenging the status quo. Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious yet enthusiastic way; we are devoted to building a team that represents a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.