Research Chemist: Organic Synthesis & SAR

RTI International; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

RTI International is seeking a Research Chemist to join its Center for Therapeutics, Toxicology, and Devices. You will design and conduct organic synthesis experiments, apply purification and characterization, and help establish SAR to guide compound development.

You will collaborate with computational chemists and scientists from related disciplines, lead defined research activities, and mentor junior staff while contributing to proposals and technical reports.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry required with relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience with a broad range of organic reactions and purification strategies.
• Experience applying analytical methods and chemical characterization techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct organic synthesis experiments using established methods and, when appropriate, develop or adapt approaches to address research challenges.
• Perform chemical reactions, complex purifications, and compound characterization to support project objectives.
• Develop and apply analytical methods to evaluate compound identity, purity, and other relevant chemical properties.
• Contribute to dose formulation development and characterization, as required by project needs.
• Interpret chemical and related in vitro data to identify SAR trends and recommend next steps for compound design and synthesis.
• Collaborate with computational chemists and other research scientists to integrate experimental findings and guide research decisions.
• Lead assigned project activities, coordinating technical work and managing competing priorities to meet project milestones.
• Design research activities that build on the team’s collective expertise and advance project objectives.
• Prepare technical reports, proposal sections, and presentations that clearly communicate research methods, findings, and recommendations.
• Present research findings to clients, collaborators, and audiences at professional meetings.
• Contribute to project development and proposal activities by communicating RTI’s technical capabilities to internal and external stakeholders.
• Review colleagues’ scientific work and provide constructive technical feedback.
• Mentor junior staff through technical guidance, performance feedback, and support for professional development.
• Maintain accurate, complete research records and follow applicable laboratory safety and quality requirements.
• Perform scheduled instrument maintenance independently and participate in internal and external audits, as needed.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Purification techniques

Analytical methods

SAR interpretation

Mentoring

Education

PhD in Chemistry

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

RTI International is seeking a Research Chemist to join its Center for Therapeutics, Toxicology, and Devices. You will design and conduct organic synthesis experiments, apply purification and characterization, and help establish SAR to guide compound development.

You will collaborate with computational chemists and scientists from related disciplines, lead defined research activities, and mentor junior staff while contributing to proposals and technical reports.