Scientist/Sr. Scientist, mRNA Display

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc. in Cambridge, MA seeks a Scientist/Senior Scientist specialized in mRNA display to build and operate a new molecular platform. You will drive peptide and mini-protein discovery, design display libraries, and optimize candidates in collaboration with computational modeling and data science teams.

The role emphasizes cross-functional teamwork, development of in-house cell-free display systems, and advancing novel therapeutic peptides within our new discovery center.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, or related field (postdoc preferred).
• BS/MS with significantly more industry experience will be considered.
• 2+ years post-degree in mRNA display or related in vitro display technologies (Scientist).
• 4+ years (Senior Scientist)
• Experience building custom cell-free display systems from scratch preferred.
• Experience with other in vitro display technologies (e.g., ribosome display) and cell-free expression systems (IVTT, CFS) is a plus.
• Experience incorporating non-canonical amino acids via reprogrammed translation systems or related approaches.
• NGS analysis of library diversity and selection enrichment; bioinformatics familiarity is a plus.
• Analytical characterization of peptides (LC-MS) and developability considerations.

Responsibilities

• Execute the full peptide and mini-protein mRNA display workflow from design to enrichment.
• Apply non-canonical amino acid incorporation to expand library diversity.
• Apply modifications (macrocyclization/stapling, lipidation, bioconjugation) to improve properties.
• Build and maintain custom cell-free display systems from scratch.
• Generate and analyze SAR data to support lead optimization.
• Collaborate with modeling, design, and data science to support DMTA cycles.

Skills

mRNA display workflow

Non-canonical amino acids

Chemical modification strategies

Cell-free display systems

SAR data analysis

Education

PhD in Chemical Biology / Biochemistry / Organic Chemistry

BS/MS with industry experience

Tools

IVTT

CFS

Ribosome display

Job description

Does it excite you to work at the frontier of peptide and mini-protein drug discovery, and do you have hands‑on experience with mRNA display technology? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to help build a new discovery platform from the ground up, then you could be our new colleague.

Your new position As a Scientist or Senior Scientist in mRNA Display, you will play a central scientific role in our new Molecular Platform Development organization, driving peptide and mini-protein discovery through mRNA display technology. You will help build and operate a modern, high-throughput display platform at the inception of our new Cambridge, MA research center. This role suits a scientist with strong technical expertise across the full mRNA display workflow, scientific curiosity, and a desire to grow in scope and responsibility.

• Execute the full peptide and mini-protein mRNA display workflow, from library design and in vitro transcription/translation through puromycin-based fusion, selection, and enrichment
• Apply expertise in non-canonical amino acid incorporation to expand chemical diversity within display libraries
• Apply chemical modification strategies, including macrocyclization/stapling, lipidation, and bioconjugation, to improve potency, stability, and pharmacokinetic properties
• Build and maintain custom cell-free display systems in-house, including establishing mRNA display platforms from scratch
• Generate and analyze structure-activity relationship (SAR) data to support optimization of selected hits, contributing to lead and backup candidate selection
• Collaborate with computational modeling, design, and data science colleagues to support efficient DMTA cycles

Your profile You bring strong technical expertise across the peptide and mini-protein mRNA display workflow, along with scientific curiosity and sound judgment. You thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and are motivated to help shape a new platform and research center from an early stage. You communicate scientific data and concepts clearly and work effectively across cross-functional project teams.

• PhD in Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related field preferred (postdoctoral training preferred)
• candidates with a BS/MS and significantly more relevant industry experience will also be considered
• 2+ years of relevant post-degree experience in mRNA display or related in vitro display technologies (Scientist)
• 4+ years (Senior Scientist)
• Experience building custom cell-free display systems from scratch strongly preferred
• experience with other in vitro display technologies (e.g., ribosome display) and cell-free protein/peptide expression systems (e.g., IVTT, CFS) is a plus
• Experience incorporating non-canonical amino acids via reprogrammed translation systems (e.g., flexizyme-based methods) or related approaches
• Experience applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze library diversity and selection enrichment; familiarity with associated bioinformatics is a plus
• Familiarity with analytical characterization of peptides (e.g., LC-MS-based methods) and peptide developability considerations (stability, solubility, manufacturability)

Your new team You will join Molecular Platform Development, a new organization created to strengthen and advance diverse drug modality capabilities in metabolic disease, based at our new Cambridge, MA research center. The site is a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary discovery hub integrating computational research, chemistry, and biology, and is deeply connected to the Greater Boston life sciences ecosystem.

Let’s bond and be bold We have a unique culture, characterized by excellent teamwork and strong engagement across the organization. And we want you to help us strengthen this culture. Making bonds is at the core of everything we do. From discovering and developing the best new peptide drugs for patients, to engaging with our partners or connecting with each other. We bond through curiosity and playfulness as a team, allowing ourselves to challenge common thinking and drive future innovation. Join us and let’s bond and be bold.

Salary Range: $125,000 - $170,000

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from all job applicants.

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health. Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data-driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health. To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma-invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.zealandpharma.com. Since our founding in 1998, Zealand Pharma has built a core expertise in the discovery, design, and development of therapeutic peptides. This expertise has led to an R&D pipeline of innovative investigational candidates designed to address a broad range of disease areas. We have four therapeutic focus areas: obesity, rare diseases, chronic inflammation, and type 1 diabetes. In obesity, our peptide capabilities place us in a unique position to address a vast global health challenge and positively impact hundreds of millions of lives. Within rare diseases, we have a long-standing commitment to deliver new treatments to patients living with congenital hyperinsulinism and short bowel syndrome. For chronic inflammatory diseases, we are progressing peptide programs focused on high-profile targets shown to be difficult to address with small molecules and antibodies. For type 1 diabetes, we aspire to change the management of this disease. Our strategy is to pursue global co-development and commercialization partnerships that complement and extend our capabilities across the value chain to deliver new peptide therapies to people who need them.