Organic Chemist

Siftr Bio; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Siftr Bio is seeking an ambitious organic/medicinal chemist to drive chemistry programs in a fast-paced startup. The role involves leading the design and synthesis of small molecules, collaborating with top scientists, and contributing to the company's scientific strategy. This is a unique opportunity to significantly impact cancer therapy development while working in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexible and inclusive workplace

Opportunities for rapid advancement

Access to innovation ecosystem at White City

Qualifications

• PhD in synthetic organic chemistry or related subject required.
• Proven ability in tackling complex synthetic challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and synthesis of small molecule and peptide targets.
• Collaborate with scientists at Imperial College and present data.

Skills

Problem Solving

Project Management

Synthetic Organic Chemistry

HPLC Purification

Education

PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Tools

HPLC

Job description

Who we are

Siftr Bio is on a mission to reimagine targeted cancer therapies and develop groundbreaking drugs with substantially reduced side-effects that will improve the quality of life for millions of patients. Launched in 2024 from the renowned academic labs of Prof Ed Tate at Imperial College London, we are moving at pace to disrupt one of the hottest areas of biotech: antibody-drug conjugates. Our cutting edge technology is backed by a syndicate of US-based investors and UK charities, and leading figures in the ADC world. We're assembling a multidisciplinary team of world-class scientists and innovators at our lab-space in the White City Innovation District who share our ambitious goals and thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced startup environment.

What we're looking for

Siftr is looking for a brilliant and ambitious organic/medicinal chemist to drive our chemistry programs towards small molecule and biologic targets. Working directly with the founders, you will have input into all aspects of R&D, from solving complex synthetic challenges to evaluating crucial biological data of lead molecules. You will play a pivotal role in determining the scientific direction within the company, and as an early employee of a rapidly evolving biotech start-up, you will be essential to creating the processes and culture that define the company's success. This position will initially be a fixed-term contract with the opportunity to convert to a permanent role upon completion.

Key activities

• Lead the design, development, and synthesis of a range of small molecule and peptide targets, with a focus on ADC linker-payloads
• Work with the founders and wider team to contribute to overall scientific strategy
• Collaborate with scientists at Imperial College through regular meetings
• Analyse, organise, and present data to the rest of the company, and maintain accurate records of completed experiments.
• Attend relevant conferences and stay abreast of the latest scientific developments in the field
• Support the wider team in designing and implementing lab processes for a safe and effective research environment

Who you are

• PhD in synthetic organic chemistry or closely related subject with postdocs in leading research groups and/or experience in a biotech company highly desirable
• A proactive scientist who can take ownership and drive projects forward
• Proven ability to tackle challenging problems in synthetic organic chemistry, and very strong practical lab skills including experience in HPLC purification
• Someone who relishes the challenge of building a company from the early-stages
• Additional experience in peptide chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, library generation, and bioconjugation is desirable
• Must already have the right to work in the UK

What's in it for you

• A unique opportunity to take significant responsibility at an early-stage startup, with opportunities for rapid advancement as the company scales
• Exposure to a fast-paced start-up environment where your work on complex scientific challenges directly translates into patient impact
• Opportunity for direct collaborations with leading multidisciplinary scientists in Prof. Ed Tate's group at Imperial College
• Access to a stimulating innovation ecosystem at White City with >100 start-ups, scale-ups and biotechs
• A flexible and inclusive workplace with a healthy culture

Compensation: Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience

Diversity and inclusion

We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to building a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

How to apply

Please send a CV to [e-mail] and include in your email answers to the following questions. Note that a cover letter is not required.

1. What are you most proud of building? (100 words)
2. Briefly describe your research skill-set and your key technical strengths (100 words)
3. What do you value most in a workplace? (100 words)