Medicinal Chemistry Co-op (Spring 2027)

Scorpion Therapeutics; United States; On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Wave Life Sciences USA in Cambridge, MA seeks a highly motivated co-op to support medicinal chemistry efforts, including planning, designing, and executing multi-step synthesis with purification and compound characterization. The role also involves analyzing raw materials and products, maintaining records, and training across lab techniques and instrumentation.

The position offers exposure to NMR, UV-Vis, LC-MS, polarimetry, and benchtop techniques as part of developing nucleic acid therapies

Qualifications

• Working towards a Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related discipline.
• At least two years of undergraduate education completed within a chemistry discipline.
• Organic Chemistry with lab coursework I and II completed.
• Excellent oral and written communication; strong organization and time management.

Responsibilities

• Perform multi-step organic synthesis and isolate newly synthesized compounds.
• Analyze compounds using UV-Vis, LC/MS, polarimeter, NMR, and interpret results.
• Troubleshoot and optimize reaction protocols with supervisor input.
• Maintain detailed experimental notes in an electronic notebook.
• Present data and results in multidisciplinary team meetings.

Skills

NMR knowledge

LC-MS analysis

Polarimetry

Column chromatography

Rotovap operation

Biochemistry basics

Oral and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or related field

Tools

NMR spectrometer

LC-MS instrument

Polarimeter

Column chromatography setup

Rotovap

Job description

Description

Wave Life Sciences USA seeks a highly motivated co-op to join its team of medicinal chemists in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The role primarily involves laboratory work supporting medicinal chemistry efforts, including planning, designing, and executing multi-step synthesis (purification and compound characterization). Responsibilities also include analyzing raw materials and final products, maintaining records, and performing training across lab techniques and instrumentation (e.g., NMR, UPLC/MS, polarimeter, column chromatography, benchtop rotovap) to support development of novel nucleic acid therapies across multiple disease areas.

Qualifications/Experience

• Working towards a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related discipline (biochemistry, chemical engineering)
• At least two years of undergraduate education completed within a chemistry discipline (preferred)
• Successful completion of Organic Chemistry courses I and II (or equivalent) with lab
• Excellent oral and written skills; strong organizational and time management skills

Responsibilities

• Perform multi-step organic synthesis and isolate newly synthesized chemical compounds
• Analyze compounds using UV-Vis, LC/MS, polarimeter, NMR (etc.) and interpret results
• Troubleshoot and optimize reaction protocols with supervisor input
• Maintain detailed experimental notes in an electronic notebook and presentation format
• Present data and summarized results orally and in written form in multidisciplinary team meetings

Key Skills (preferred)

• Collaborative, self-motivated team player
• Enthusiasm for cutting-edge science
• Basic understanding of molecular and cell biology
• Organic and biochemistry lab experience