Research Associate - Chemical Development

Novo Nordisk A/S; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Novo Nordisk seeks a Research Associate for Chemical Development in Boulder, CO. You will contribute to scalable syntheses, work-up, purifications and isolations of oligonucleotides, aiming to improve purity, yield and throughput in a manufacturing context.

The role emphasizes organic chemistry fundamentals, process development, tech transfer, and collaboration across Technical Operations. Strong writing and cross-functional teamwork are essential.

Qualifications

• BA/BS or Master's degree in Chemistry, Biology or related field with 0 years of industrial experience, or a High School Diploma with 8+ years relevant lab experience
• Ability to follow technical instructions with some independence
• Demonstratable laboratory skills in synthetic organic chemistry and/or oligonucleotide synthesis, characterization and purification
• Solid understanding of synthetic organic chemistry and/or oligonucleotide relevant reactions and mechanisms
• Detail-oriented in both data analysis and project timelines
• Self-motivated with a proactive mindset
• The successful candidate must possess excellent writing and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams
• Ability to thrive in a multi-disciplinary and fast-paced research environment with tight deadlines

Responsibilities

• Provide research and development support of current chemical development projects utilizing state of the art techniques for preparation and analysis of oligonucleotides or nucleic acids
• Conduct laboratory work in safe, clean, efficient manner that ensures a safe working environment for colleagues
• Characterize starting materials, intermediates and synthesized molecules using common analytical techniques such as HPLC, LCMS, NMR, GC, KF and UV-Vis
• Develop and optimize all elements of chemical transformations including reaction conditions, workup, purification and isolation. Ensure robustness and reproducibility of developed processes
• Work within Technical Operations team to optimize current manufacturing processes for key oligonucleotide intermediates and reagents for oligonucleotide synthesis
• Document and summarize results in laboratory notebook and written reports. Capable of drawing valid conclusions from concrete and abstract variables
• Contribute to the team’s knowledge through scientific literature review and discussions
• Maintain and troubleshoot common laboratory equipment
• Support development and authoring of research reports to provide to internal and external manufacturing teams
• Ability to complete assignments that meet clearly defined deadlines and time schedules

Skills

Organic chemistry

Oligonucleotide synthesis

Analytical techniques

Education

BA/BS in Chemistry or related field

Master's degree in Chemistry or related field

Tools

HPLC

LC-MS

NMR

UV-Vis

Job description

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Research Associate - Chemical Development

Facility: Manufacturing

Location: Boulder, CO, US

About the Department

The Boulder Site is home to the specialized technical operations/CMC team for oligonucleotides and RNAi therapeutics. The CMC team works alongside Quality, Regulatory, Technical Operations and RNAi Early Development professionals at our Boulder, Colorado facility and works closely with our teams in Lexington, Massachusetts. Together, we are driving change. Are you ready to make a difference.

The Position

Novo Nordisk Global Nucleic Acid Therapies (GNAT) is seeking highly motivated scientists to join its CMC Chemical Development team in Boulder, Colorado. The candidate will be expected to be a key technical resource developing innovative solutions for scalable syntheses, work-up, purifications and isolations of oligonucleotides, establishing improvements in purity, yield, reproducibility, throughput and environmental impact. The successful candidate will ideally have a strong organic chemistry understanding with exposure to principles of process development, optimization, scale up and tech transfer into a manufacturing setting. This position will support therapeutic programs in multiple disease areas and will contribute to the development of scalable processes supporting Novo Nordisk oligonucleotide programs. Qualified candidates will be expected to work well in a collaborative team environment and be able to independently execute research across a wide range of oligonucleotide and organic chemistry projects.

Relationships

Reports to a more senior position within the Chemical development department. Manages mutually beneficial relationships within entire Technical Operations group. This may include external partners relevant to the planning and implementation of bulk manufacturing of oligonucleotide API. Provides excellent customer service and builds strong working relationships within Chemical Development and internal/external partners.

Essential Functions

• Provide research and development support of current chemical development projects utilizing state of the art techniques for preparation and analysis of oligonucleotides or nucleic acids
• Conduct laboratory work in safe, clean, efficient manner that ensures a safe working environment for colleagues
• Characterize starting materials, intermediates and synthesized molecules using common analytical techniques such as HPLC, LCMS, NMR, GC, KF and UV-Vis
• Develop and optimize all elements of chemical transformations including reaction conditions, workup, purification and isolation. Ensure robustness and reproducibility of developed processes
• Work within Technical Operations team to optimize current manufacturing processes for key oligonucleotide intermediates and reagents for oligonucleotide synthesis
• Document and summarize results in laboratory notebook and written reports. Capable of drawing valid conclusions from concrete and abstract variables
• Contribute to the team’s knowledge through scientific literature review and discussions
• Maintain and troubleshoot common laboratory equipment
• Support development and authoring of research reports to provide to internal and external manufacturing teams
• Ability to complete assignments that meet clearly defined deadlines and time schedules

Physical Requirements

0-10% overnight travel required. Ability to lift 0-10 lbs.

Qualifications

• BA/BS or Master's degree in Chemistry, Biology or related field with 0 years of industrial experience, or a High School Diploma with 8+ years relevant lab experience
• Ability to follow technical instructions with some independence
• Demonstratable laboratory skills in synthetic organic chemistry and/or oligonucleotide synthesis, characterization and purification
• Solid understanding of synthetic organic chemistry and/or oligonucleotide relevant reactions and mechanisms
• Detail-oriented in both data analysis and project timelines
• Self-motivated with a proactive mindset
• The successful candidate must possess excellent writing and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams
• Ability to thrive in a multi-disciplinary and fast-paced research environment with tight deadlines

The base compensation range for this position is $77,400 to $96,800. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position's level or other company factors.

Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy and parental leave policy.

The job posting is anticipated to close on October 6, 2026. The Company may however extend this time-period, in which case the posting will remain available on our careers website at www.novonordisk-us/careers.com .

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes - we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and defeating diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger - a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.