Senior Scientist, Assay Development; Chemistry

About Glyphic:

At Glyphic Biotechnologies, we plan to create the protein revolution for which scientists and researchers have been waiting. We are developing a massively parallel, single-molecule proteome sequencing platform that will transform life science discovery and usher in a new era of insights into human biology and disease. To date, we have raised >$80M from venture partners and non-dilutive grant funding to achieve our vision of next generation proteome sequencing.

We are seeking a Senior or Staff Scientist to join our Assay Development team at a critical stage in platform development. Reporting to the Director of Assay Development, you will be a hands‑on expert working at the chemistry‑assay interface — developing the chemical methods that enable reliable, high‑efficiency sample loading into our expansion assay, and building the novel conjugation, cleavage, and stabilization workflows that power our single‑molecule proteome sequencing platform.

You will work closely with the Chemistry team to develop sample input methods for new protein and peptide types, including side‑chain protection strategies, encoder loading routes, and peptide‑from‑protein handoff approaches.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in peptide chemistry, bioorthogonal and click conjugation strategies, and cleavage chemistry development — with a track record of building new chemical methods for complex, multi‑component systems. You combine a synthetic chemist's mechanistic rigor with sensitivity to how chemistry performs inside a demanding multi‑cycle assay environment.

This is a full‑time, exempt, in‑person position with work conducted at our Berkeley, CA location.

Expansion assay chemistry & sample loading

• Optimize bioconjugation methods for peptide loading into the expansion assay; establish robust, high‑efficiency loading protocols that perform reliably across diverse peptide populations and physicochemical characteristics.
• Identify, characterize, and optimize peptide labeling during the ProSE sequencing assay, leveraging mechanistic understanding of Edman chemistry and amino acid side‑chain reactivity and stability.
• Develop reagents and methods to maximize the stability of peptides, DNA, and peptide‑DNA chimeras throughout the ProSE sequencing assay.
• Partner with the Chemistry team to develop amino acid side‑chain protection chemistries.
• Evaluate compatibility of new chemistries with existing assay components, reagents, and multi‑cycle sequencing conditions.
• Evaluate emerging chemistries from the literature and internal pipeline; synthesize and test candidate reagents.

Novel assay chemistry workflows

• Design and determine the order of operations for chemical manipulations within the assay workflow — including decisions on when specific steps occur on‑bead versus off‑bead, and how side‑chain protection and deprotection strategies are sequenced relative to assay cycles — to ensure compatibility, efficiency, and analytical interpretability.
• Optimize selective cleavage chemistry workflows for use within the sequencing assay.
• Optimize for efficiency, selectivity, and compatibility with assay conditions.
• Develop stabilization strategies for sensitive assay intermediates and conjugates.
• Employ analytical methods — HPLC (RP and IEX), LC‑MS/MS, UV‑Vis, CE — to characterize conjugation efficiency, adduct identity, purity, and stability of assay intermediates and conjugates.
• Characterize and troubleshoot the impact of the chemical steps of multi‑cycle workflows.

Required:

• Advanced degree in organic chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry, or a related field
• Industry experience designing multi‑step chemical workflows in complex biological systems, including sequencing or determining the order of chemical manipulations across assay conditions.
• MS/PhD with 6+/4+ years of experience (for Senior Scientist)
• MS/PhD with 8+/6+ years of experience (for Staff Scientist)
• Demonstrated experience developing site‑selective bioconjugation chemistry for native peptides — including N‑terminal, C‑terminal, and side‑chain modification strategies — using click chemistry (CuAAC, SPAAC, IEDDA),…