MS Bioconjugation Chemistry Co-op — Protein Modification

Flagship Pioneering, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Founders’ environment

Cross-disciplinary teamwork

Real ownership

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering, in collaboration with Tilde Bio, Cambridge, MA, seeks a Master’s level Co‑Op to join the Bioconjugation Chemistry team, developing novel chemistries for site‑selective protein modification. You will design, synthesize, and evaluate reactive handles and conjugation strategies, applying them to proteins with small molecules, linkers, and payloads.

This hands‑on role offers real scientific ownership and close collaboration with chemists, protein engineers, and nanopore

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing an MS in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, or a closely related field.
• Strong foundation in organic synthesis, including multistep synthesis, purification, and characterization.
• Hands-on experience with analytical techniques such as NMR and LC-MS, and ability to extract structural information from spectra.
• Working knowledge of protein chemistry, including handling, purification, and buffer considerations.
• Previous research or industry experience in bioconjugation, chemical biology, or protein modification, familiar with antibody or protein conjugate modalities.
• Ability to work independently, troubleshoot experiments, and think critically about results.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to discover and optimize new bioconjugation reactions on proteins and peptides, targeting native residues, termini, and/or genetically encoded or non-canonical handles.
• Synthesize small-molecule reagents, linkers, and probes, including purification and structural characterization.
• Screen reaction conditions under biocompatible conditions and assess kinetics, selectivity, and yield.
• Characterize protein conjugates using intact-protein LC-MS and related methods to determine purity, conjugation efficiency, and site selectivity.
• Evaluate conjugate stability and the impact of modification on protein structure and function.
• Maintain accurate, detailed records in an electronic lab notebook.
• Analyze data, summarize findings, and present results at team meetings.
• Contribute to a culture of safe laboratory practice and scientific rigor.

Skills

Organic synthesis

NMR

LC-MS

Protein chemistry

Independent and critical thinking

Written and verbal communication

Education

MS in Chemistry/Chemical Biology/Biochemistry

Tools

NMR

LC-MS

Job description

Flagship Pioneering, in collaboration with Tilde Bio, Cambridge, MA, seeks a Master’s level Co‑Op to join the Bioconjugation Chemistry team, developing novel chemistries for site‑selective protein modification. You will design, synthesize, and evaluate reactive handles and conjugation strategies, applying them to proteins with small molecules, linkers, and payloads.

This hands‑on role offers real scientific ownership and close collaboration with chemists, protein engineers, and nanopore