RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT WITH INDUSTRIAL PHD PATHWAY

Philochem AG; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 18.000 - 27.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Mentorship from experienced scientists

International biotechnology setting

Potential PhD pathway

Zusammenfassung

Philochem AG in Switzerland seeks an early-career scientist for a Research Internship in Drug Discovery and Development with an Industrial PhD Pathway. The role focuses on DNA-encoded libraries design, synthesis, screening, and validation to identify novel ligands for targeted therapies and diagnostics.

Strong collaboration across chemistry, biology, and MS is required. The internship offers hands-on experience and potential path to an industrial PhD with a leading European university, with a

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree in chemistry or a related field.
• Exposure to modern drug discovery concepts and translational research.
• Experience in synthetic chemistry or screening DELs is advantageous.
• Ability to interpret experiments with scientific rigor.
• Proactive, reliable, well-organized and responsible.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Aufgaben

• Design and synthesize DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries and related compounds.
• Screen libraries against pharmaceutically relevant targets.
• Validate hits using biochemical, biophysical, analytical, and cell-based assays.
• Analyze data and contribute to structure-activity relationships.
• Collaborate with chemistry, biology, and mass spectrometry teams.
• Present results and contribute to publications and IP.

Kenntnisse

Synthetic chemistry

Screening technologies

DNA-encoded libraries

Analytical methods

Data analysis

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Ausbildung

Master's degree in chemistry or related field

Tools

Mass spectrometry

Analytical instrumentation

Jobbeschreibung

Job Title: RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT WITH INDUSTRIAL PHD PATHWAY

Department: Others

Research Internship in Drug Discovery and Development with Industrial PhD Pathway

Start date: August 2026

Duration: Up to one year, with potential transition into an industrial PhD project

About us

Philochem AG is the discovery R&D center of the Philogen Group, a Swiss-Italian biotechnology company developing innovative biopharmaceuticals for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Located near Zurich, Philochem integrates chemistry, biology, cell line development, and mass spectrometry to advance new therapeutic and diagnostic candidates from discovery toward clinical development.

Your Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, scientifically ambitious, and collaborative early-career scientist to join our Chemistry group. The position is suited for a chemist, biochemist, chemical biologist, pharmaceutical scientist, or related interdisciplinary profile who is eager to contribute to modern drug discovery at the interface of chemistry, biology, and translational research.

The project will focus on the design, synthesis, screening, and validation of DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries to identify novel ligands for targeted therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The successful candidate will work closely with an interdisciplinary team and will contribute to ligand discovery programs with potential translational impact.

For a candidate who demonstrates strong scientific progress and fits well within the team, the internship may open a pathway to an industrial PhD project in collaboration with a leading European university.

Your Tasks

• Design and synthesize DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries and related compounds.
• Screen libraries against pharmaceutically relevant targets.
• Validate and prioritize hits using biochemical, biophysical, analytical, and cell-based assays.
• Analyze data and contribute to structure-activity relationship development.
• Collaborate with scientists across chemistry, biology, and mass spectrometry.
• Present results internally and contribute to publications and intellectual property.

Your Profile

• Master's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, or a related field.
• Exposure to concepts of modern drug discovery and translational biomedical research.
• Experience in synthetic chemistry, screening technologies, DELs, or analytical methods is an advantage.
• Ability to critically interpret experiments (scientific rigor).
• Proactive, reliable, well-organized, and eager to take responsibility.
• Proficient written and spoken English.
• Collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research.

What We Offer

• A scientifically ambitious research project at the interface of chemistry, chemical biology, and translational drug discovery.
• Hands-on experience with DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries and modern discovery technologies.
• Close mentorship from experienced scientists in an international biotechnology environment.
• Exposure to interdisciplinary research spanning chemistry, biology, mass spectrometry, and preclinical development.
• Opportunities to contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and intellectual property.
• Potential transition into a PhD project with a leading European university, subject to mutual agreement.