Synthetic Organic Chemist

Company Description ION Biosciences develops next-generation tools that enable scientists to advance ion channel, transporter, and GPCR research. The company provides fluorescent ion indicators, high-throughput screening assay kits, validated cell lines, and custom screening services designed to deliver reliable, actionable data. Its solutions support target-specific, multiplexed, and organellar ion channel assay development, as well as custom chemistry for fluorescent probes and conjugatable ion indicators.

Trusted by researchers worldwide for performance, support, and value, ION Biosciences helps illuminate complex biology and contributes to advances in human health.

Role Description ION Biosciences is offering a full-time Synthetic Organic Chemistry position to support the rebuilding of our Chemistry division in San Marcos, Texas. This role requires you to be a domain expert in small molecule, organic synthesis. The successful candidate will be required to operate with considerable independence to synthesize or purify known intermediates, new chemical entities, and final products in mg-g scale quantities.

This individual will also support the evaluation, route planning, and triaging of custom synthesis requests and exploration of new business opportunities. This position reports to the CEO, and presents a unique opportunity for you to establish a team, culture, and vision for an important division within a growing life sciences startup.

Responsibilities

• Follow lab safety practices, wear appropriate PPE, maintain a clean work space and meticulously document experiments and results in e-lab notebook.
• Multi-step, gram-scale synthesis of products and intermediates for fluorescent ion indicators, following described experimental procedures and known synthetic routes.
• Performing purification and separation techniques including distillation, crystallization, filtration and extraction (including liquid-liquid), column chromatography, recrystallization, preparative TLC and preparative LC.
• Occasional duties might include researching, designing and synthesizing novel molecules for R&D, client-driven projects and new product development.
• Work with standard equipment such as glass columns, round-bottomed flasks, hot plate/stirrers, rotary evaporators, vacuum pumps, lyophilizers, fume hoods and other standard laboratory glassware and equipment.
• Meticulously document lab activities, experimental results, and process deviations in an electronic lab notebook (ELN).
• Leverage your domain expertise to provide creative direction to stakeholders, drive process improvements for existing synthetic schemes, pitch new innovations and business opportunities, and interpret experimental results.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry or MS/BS with relevant industry experience; focus in small molecule medicinal chemistry or fluorescent dye synthesis is preferred.
• 1+ years of experience in industry producing gram scale or greater quantities of final products.
• Familiarity with standard chemical reactions, named reactions, work-up and purification methods is required. Setting up and monitoring reactions, developing mobile phases, developing purification methods, and troubleshooting should all be second nature to the candidate.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Chem Draw, Mestre Nova, are a plus.
• An ideal candidate has a working proficiency with flash chromatography, column chromatography, prepLC, and thin-layer chromatography, and has used instruments including HPLC, LCMS, and NMR for analyzing and reporting outcomes.
• Requirements
• Daily duties are performed in an office and laboratory setting.
• Role may require lifting or moving items weighing up to 40 lbs.