Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Protein Purification

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 is seeking a Scientist or Senior Scientist in Protein Purification and Analysis to deliver high-purity samples for discovery programs and structural biology studies, working hands-on with diverse purification technologies.

You will lead purification of recombinant proteins and bioconjugates, support analytical characterization by MS and biophysical methods, and help advance automated workflows within a new Molecular Platform Development team.

Qualifications

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Protein Engineering, Biochemistry, or 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 protein purification (Scientist)
• 4+ years (Senior Scientist)
• Deep, hands-on expertise in protein and peptide purification, including SEC, IEX, affinity, RP-HPLC, and CE-based methods, at analytical and preparative scales
• Experience with complex molecular formats such as ADCs, AOCs, or other bioconjugates strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience with AKTA chromatography systems (e.g., AKTA pure, AKTA avant) is desired
• Working knowledge of analytical characterization techniques, including mass spectrometry, biophysical methods (e.g., DLS, MALS, SPR, BLI, DSF), and flow cytometry, sufficient to collaborate effectively with analytical specialists

Responsibilities

• Purify proteins and bioconjugates for discovery programs.
• Prepare samples for MS, HDX-MS, cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography.
• Develop and optimize purification workflows; support characterization.
• Collaborate with analytical and biophysical teams.
• Support early program lead-series selection.

Skills

Protein purification

Mass spectrometry

Biophysics

Analytical characterization

Flow cytometry

Education

PhD in Analytical Chemistry/Protein Biochemistry

BS/MS with relevant industry experience

Tools

AKTA chromatography systems

Job description

Does it excite you to be the go-to purification expert delivering high-purity samples for cutting-edge structural biology and mass spec studies? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to bring deep purification expertise to a new discovery organization, then you could be our new colleague.

Your new position

As a Scientist or Senior Scientist in Protein Purification and Analysis, you will play an important scientific role supporting discovery programs, with a primary emphasis on high-quality purification of protein-based therapeutics and their bioconjugates. You will work hands-on with a broad range of modern protein purification technologies, with complementary analytical characterization, at the inception of our new Cambridge, MA research center.

This role suits a scientist with deep, hands-on expertise in protein and bioconjugate purification, scientific curiosity, and a desire to grow in scope and responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary supplier of high-purity protein and bioconjugate samples formatted to meet the requirements of downstream mass spectrometry (e.g., native MS, HDX-MS) and structural biology methods (e.g., cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography)
• Execute and support purification of recombinant proteins, peptides, and their bioconjugates (e.g., ADCs, AOCs) to support discovery programs from early research through lead-series selection
• Apply a broad range of purification techniques, including SEC, IEX, affinity, RP-HPLC, and CE-based methods, at analytical and preparative scales
• Support purification and characterization of challenging targets and formats, such as membrane proteins (e.g., GPCRs), in vitro-reconstituted target complexes, and peptide-Fc or lipidated conjugates
• Support analytical characterization to confirm identity, purity, concentration, and stability using mass spectrometry, chromatographic, biophysical, and flow cytometry-based methods
• Contribute to the development and optimization of automated and high-throughput purification workflows, improving speed, reproducibility, and data quality

Your profile

You bring deep, hands-on purification expertise and scientific curiosity, with a strong conceptual understanding of protein biophysics and stability principles. You thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and are motivated to help shape purification workflows and a new research center from an early stage. You communicate scientific data, methods, and assumptions clearly and work effectively across cross-functional project teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Protein Engineering, Biochemistry, 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 protein purification (Scientist)
• 4+ years (Senior Scientist)
• Deep, hands-on expertise in protein and peptide purification, including SEC, IEX, affinity, RP-HPLC, and CE-based methods, at analytical and preparative scales
• Experience with complex molecular formats such as ADCs, AOCs, or other bioconjugates strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience with AKTA chromatography systems (e.g., AKTA pure, AKTA avant) is desired
• Working knowledge of analytical characterization techniques, including mass spectrometry, biophysical methods (e.g., DLS, MALS, SPR, BLI, DSF), and flow cytometry, sufficient to collaborate effectively with analytical specialists

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.

Salary

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.