Research Associate, ADCs

Ridge Bio; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ridge Biotechnologies, Inc. is seeking a Research Associate to advance bioconjugate therapeutics using our NativeLink and ProTrigger platforms. You will synthesize, purify, and analyze proteins and conjugates, working across cell-based assays and biophysical characterizations.

You will join a collaborative team focused on therapeutic development, with opportunities to contribute to scalable processes and enzyme engineering collaborations in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• BS with 2–3 years of chemistry/biochemistry experience or MS with 1–2 years; related disciplines welcomed.
• Hands-on experience implementing bioconjugation methods to produce biotherapeutics.
• Experience with cell-based and plate-based assays (flow cytometry, ELISA, etc.).
• Maintaining and expanding mammalian cell lines.
• Bioanalytical chemistry methods including HPLC, MS, and biophysical characterization.
• Isolation and purification of antibodies and conjugates (SEC, IEX, ProA, HIC, TFF).
• Synthesis and conjugation chemistry for bioconjugate therapeutics including high-throughput mammalian expression, site-specific conjugation, enzymatic or chemical methods.
• Developability assays like DSF, HIC, stability assays; good documentation and data reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute methods to synthesize and purify proteins and bioconjugates at multiple scales using established platforms.
• Analyze bioconjugates with assays such as ELISA, flow cytometry, antibody binding, internalization, and cell killing.
• Support cell line development and culture operations for therapeutic programs.
• Collaborate with enzyme engineering to modify protein therapeutics and improve efficacy.
• Document experimental designs, results, and provide data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Bioconjugation methods

Cell-based assays

Mammalian cell culture

Analytical chemistry

Protein purification

Synthesis and conjugation

High-throughput screening

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry/biochemistry

Master’s degree in chemistry/biochemistry

Tools

HPLC

Mass spectrometry

SEC

IEX

ProA

HIC

TFF

Peptide synthesis

Job description

Ridge Biotechnologies, Inc.

Research Associate, Antibody-drug Conjugates

About Us:

Ridge Biotechnologies enables the development and construction of the next generation of precision medicines through enzyme and targeted therapeutic design. Using our powerful experimental and computational platform built on large datasets generated by cell-free synthesis, biorthogonal chemistries, and ever-improving machine learning models, Ridge is pioneering the design of new medicines and scalable production methods that enable our partners to bring life-saving therapies to patients in need. In recent months, we’ve secured multiple partnerships and launched our first product lines: NativeLink enzymes that provide precise and stable bioconjugation without modification of protein sequence, glycan, or disulfide bonds; ProTrigger protease-cleavable linkers that enable selective drug release in the tumor microenvironment; and novel enzyme-based Catalytic Medicines.

Ridge Bio’s founders are industry veterans who have previously built successful biotechnology companies and academic leaders from top institutions including Stanford and Caltech with world-leading expertise in cell-free systems, therapeutic development, and protein engineering. We are backed by Sutter Hill Ventures, a quiet powerhouse that has been building successful companies since 1962 by focusing on bringing together great people to solve hard technological problems in big markets. Our company culture is dedicated to intellectual integrity, service ownership, and creative impact.

Role Description:

We are looking for a thoughtful and driven scientist with hands-on experience in synthesis and analysis of bioconjugate therapeutics, excellent lab skills, and strong problem-solving abilities to join our tightly knit team. You’ll work with brilliant scientists with complementary sets of expertise to solve challenging problems at the intersection of biochemistry, protein engineering, and therapeutic development, applying our NativeLink and ProTrigger technologies to advance therapeutic programs with our growing group of partners. An appetite for tackling new challenges and techniques, working flexibly across disciplines, and a pragmatic approach to therapeutic development are a must. You’ll have the opportunity to consistently expand your skillsets in synthesis, conjugation, and bioanalytical characterization as you help execute impactful projects alongside our protein engineering and bioconjugation chemistry teams. Level and compensation will be set by experience and previously demonstrated impact in highly related research.

Required Qualifications:

• At least a B.S. with 2-3 years of experience or an M.S. with 1-2 years of experience in chemistry, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical engineering, or a related discipline. Additional experience and demonstrated impact in highly related research are welcomed and will be reflected in level and compensation.
• Direct, hands‑on experience implementing bioconjugation methods to produce biotherapeutics (e.g. proteins, peptides, lipids, and nucleic acids).
• Direct, hands‑on experience performing cell‑based and plate‑based assays (such as cell killing, antibody binding, antibody internalization, flow cytometry, ELISA).
• Direct, hands‑on experience maintaining and expanding mammalian cell lines.
• Direct experience with bioanalytical chemistry methods including HPLC, mass spectrometry, and other methods for biophysical characterization of proteins and bioconjugates.
• Direct experience with isolation and purification of antibodies and protein conjugates including SEC, IEX, ProA, HIC, TFF.
• Hands‑on experience executing synthesis and conjugation chemistry applicable to production of bioconjugate therapeutics (e.g. high throughput mammalian expression systems, peptide synthesis, site‑specific conjugation, enzymatic conjugation, chemical conjugation, and click chemistry).
• Hands‑on experience with antibody/ADC developability assays, e.g. buffer/serum/lysosomal stability, immunoprecipitation, DSF, HIC, forced aggregation/degradation.
• Demonstrated ability to boot up, run, and report on experiments in an interdisciplinary and fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to work full‑time hours at our Bay Area location with flexibility to complete time‑sensitive projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with advanced cell culture and cell line engineering methods (primary cell assays, CRISPR gene editing, etc).
• Direct experience supporting the scale‑up of bioconjugation bioprocesses from early discovery (milligram) to pre‑clinical (gram) scale from synthesis of antibodies and linkers to purification.
• Direct experience working with selectively cleavable linkers for antibody drug conjugates or masked protein therapeutics.
• Direct experience developing and advancing therapeutic candidates (such as bioconjugates, antibodies, nanobodies, gene therapies, enzymes) in an industry setting.
• Experience with high‑throughput synthesis and experimental design for bioconjugate development.
• Experience with solid‑phase peptide synthesis and chemical synthesis.

How You’ll Contribute:

• Develop and execute methods to synthesize and purify proteins and bioconjugate therapeutics across scales using high‑throughput cellular production, chemical synthesis methods, solid‑phase synthesis, SEC, IEX, ProA, HIC, TFF, and others.
• Develop and execute methods to analyze bioconjugate therapeutics with an array of assays including cell killing, antibody binding, antibody internalization, flow cytometry, ELISA, buffer/serum/lysosomal stability, immunoprecipitation, DSF, HIC, forced aggregation/degradation, HPLC, mass spectrometry, and others.
• Develop and apply high‑throughput screening methods for protease activity.
• Support cell line development and cell culture operations for therapeutic development.
• Collaborate with our enzyme engineering team to design and execute methods for precise modification of protein therapeutics to ultimately develop more effective medicines.
• Document experimental designs and results; keep excellent records and data.
• Analyze experimental data to provide recommendations for next experimental steps.
• Present and communicate experimental results to multidisciplinary team members and partner organizations.
• Assist in the development and filing of intellectual property on new bioconjugation methods, linkers, and therapeutic platforms.
• Accelerate the development, production, and analysis of cutting‑edge therapeutic modalities.
• Support the larger R&D team in various lab and day‑to‑day operations and activities.

We offer a strong benefits package, competitive compensation, and an opportunity to work collaboratively with a top‑notch team with diverse skillsets to solve challenging problems with wide impact in therapeutics. If you are a highly motivated researcher looking to apply your skills in bioconjugate therapeutic development to impact patients by helping to usher in the next generation of precision medicines in a fast‑paced entrepreneurial environment, then this job is for you!