DNA-Encoded Library Chemist (Temporary position for 12 months)

Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche .

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 medicine. 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 Therapeutic Modalities (TMo) function is part of the Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) organization. TMo discovers and optimizes innovative drug candidates including small molecules, biologics and nucleic acid-based therapeutics in order to deliver novel therapeutic approaches across all pRED Discovery and Translational areas (DTAs).

The Opportunity

We are offering a chemistry-based position with a 12-month duration in the DNA-encoded library technology (DELT) team at the Roche Innovation Center Basel, Switzerland. During this time you will be responsible for on-DNA reaction development, building block validation, DNA-encoded library design and synthesis, including hands-on experience with robotics and automation. You will be a part of a multidisciplinary team involved in DEL from library design and synthesis, through screening to hit follow-up.

The DELT team lies within the Lead Discovery (LD) Department in Small Molecule Research, which is part of Therapeutic Modalities (TMo) within Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED). We deliver leading-edge science to drive the success of Roche’s early pipeline discovery research activities through strong expertise in high throughput or focused screening platforms, DNA-encoded library technology (DELT), protein science & enzymology/biophysics, cell-based assays and biostructure determination. We are accountable for the provision of high-quality chemistry starting points for small-molecule projects and for generating molecular and mechanistic insights that are critical for the advancement of discovery projects.

During the assignment, you will:

• Actively plan and contribute to the discovery and development of novel DNA-compatible chemistry for use in DNA-encoded library synthesis

• Utilise automation and combinatorial methodology for the synthesis of DNA-encoded libraries

• Purify and characterise oligonucleotide-small molecule conjugates using techniques such as HPLC and mass spectrometry.

• Optimise novel and current reaction protocols for application in DELT

• Reaction validation using large sets of building blocks

• Utilise computationally guided approaches to library design

• Be strongly involved in Roche’s small molecule research discovery engines

• Collaborate with chemistry colleagues, as well as various academic groups, to translate traditional and cutting-edge reactions into DNA-compatible variants

• Use electronic laboratory notebooks to document your research results accurately

• Plan experiments and present your findings to larger audiences

• Maintain a safe working environment

This position is temporary for 12 months.

Who you are

You are highly passionate about DNA-encoded library technology, pushing the boundaries of the field, as well as discovering and taking on new challenges. We are looking for an enthusiastic lab chemist who is excited about organic and medicinal chemistry and wants to do advanced research in the pharmaceutical industry.

• You have a PhD or Master’s degree in organic chemistry, synthetic methodology development, synthetic organic chemistry, or medicinal chemistry, with 3+ years of relevant experience if you hold a Master’s.

• You possess extensive technical knowledge and practical expertise in organic chemistry, with prior experience in DNA chemistry being highly desirable.

• You demonstrate experience in method development, making it a strong asset.

• You thrive as a motivated team player in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment, being highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.

• You are self-driven and focused, with strong multitasking abilities to efficiently meet deadlines.

• You have excellent organizational skills, a proactive mindset, and fluency in English.

Unwavering focus, collaborative teamwork and exceptional delivery are key behaviours that drive our mission of doing now what patients need next. Together, we can be transformative.

If you are passionate about contributing to a committed team and have the dedication to partnership and innovation, Roche is the place for you! Every role at Roche plays a part in making a difference in patients’ lives. Apply now and join us in making an impact!

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more .

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.