Research Associate - Peptide Chemistry

About the Department
As part of the establishment of our R&D Hub in greater Boston, Novo Nordisk is growing its efforts within Chemical Biology. A cornerstone of this is an expansion of our capabilities in peptide chemistry to support the validation of drug targets and advance drug research programs that address unmet needs within a broad range of serious chronic diseases. Building on our success in delivering treatments for diabetes, obesity, and other chronic and rare diseases, we are growing our teams and technological capabilities to be able to explore new drug targets and pursue the next generation of novel therapies across a range of modalities.
In growing our presence in the greater Boston area via our R&D Hub, we seek to bring together the 100-year heritage and experience of Novo Nordisk with the unparalleled innovation eco-system found in Boston. You will join and help build a vibrant and science-focused team of researchers where innovation is at the core. Chemical Biology sits within Small Molecule and Cross Modality Research (SM&CMR), which is a CVP area within Therapeutics Discovery and Accelerated Execution (TDAE). This is a key part of our Research and Early Development (R&ED) organization, which thrives on exploring new drug modalities, innovating screening and characterization approaches, and enhancing delivery technologies to support projects across all therapeutic areas. We are an interdisciplinary team comprised of peptide chemists, protein engineers, biologists, and assay development and screening specialists, and we are currently expanding our peptide chemistry team to help drive early research programs from idea to lead candidate.
We are based in newly established lab facilities in Lexington and co-located with target discovery and early drug research groups. As part of a team of leading scientists and innovators, you will bring your own ideas and collaborate with others to develop the next generation of medicines. It's ground-breaking work with the promise of improving the lives of millions of people with chronic diseases. If you want to make a difference, join us in pioneering research that can achieve a global impact.
The Position
In your role as Research Associate in peptide chemistry, you will work closely with a highly skilled team of peptide medicinal chemists to support peptide drug discovery and lead optimization activities. This is a great opportunity for a talented chemist to learn the peptide drug discovery process from some of the best peptide medicinal chemists in the world. Together with your chemistry colleagues, you will help mature ideas into applied research projects within different therapeutic areas through the synthesis, isolation, purification, and analytical characterization of peptides and related molecular formats. Along the way, you will keep excellent records to ensure data integrity and reproducibility and communicate experimental results to other colleagues in the peptide chemistry team and to diverse project teams. In your daily work, you will collaborate closely with scientists within the Chemical Biology team, other teams across our growing US R&D Hub, and global project teams. The working environment in R&ED is dynamic and innovative and involves interactions with colleagues from research sites in Denmark, UK, and China, with an excellent opportunity to establish a strong global scientific network.
Relationships
Internal relationships include project teams and research colleagues in the greater Boston area and at research sites elsewhere in the US, Denmark, China, and the UK. Communicates data externally when required. Reports to of the head of Chemical Biology. Individual Contributor: does not manage other employees or contingent workers.
Essential Functions

• Applies core concepts in synthetic organic chemistry to synthesize, purify, and characterize peptides and related molecules in a laboratory setting.
• Collaborates with senior peptide chemists to develop structure activity relationships for peptide drug discovery projects, applying principles in peptide medicinal chemistry to help mature projects from proof-of-concept to identification of lead candidates.
• Ensures proper recordkeeping through use of an electronic notebook to log experimental purpose and protocols, upload key data, and draw conclusions. Maintains data integrity by ensuring raw data is properly archived, processed, and incorporated into various report formats.
• Helps maintain laboratory instrumentation, including peptide synthesizers, high pressure liquid chromatography systems, and mass spectrometry equipment through preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and working with vendors and service technicians.
• Helps manage a chemical inventory, prepare reagent stocks and buffers, and properly dispose of chemical waste.
• Maintains a safe working environment in and out of the lab by contributing to a culture of safety, following safety protocols, using proper PPE, environmental, and engineering controls, and reporting incidents and suggestions to improve safety.

Qualifications

• A High School diploma with 8 or more years, an Associate or Vocational degree with 4 or more years, or a BS or MS with 0 or more years of relevant laboratory experience is required. A degree within chemistry or biochemistry is preferred.
• Possession of a solid understanding of principles in synthetic organic chemistry, including basics of chemical reactions, techniques in separation and purification, and analytical characterization.
• Experience working in a chemistry laboratory environment is required and a working knowledge of the basics of chemical hazard management and safety practices is preferred.
• Experience with Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS), separation techniques including chromatography, and analytical techniques including mass spectrometry is preferred.
• Experience with scientific record keeping including electronic notebook systems is preferred.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills.

0-10% Overnight travel is required.
We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.
At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we're life changing.
Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.
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