TPD Chemistry Lead & Platform Innovator

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Paid leave programs

Job summary

Jnana Therapeutics seeks an experienced medicinal chemist to lead our Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) chemistry strategy. You will guide platform direction, shape design principles, and steer multiple programs toward development candidates.

This role combines scientific leadership with hands-on execution, driving rapid iteration and enabling next-generation degradation modalities such as extracellular protein degradation.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field with extensive industry experience in medicinal chemistry.
• Experience leading one or more targeted protein degradation programs with heterobifunctional molecules.
• Deep understanding of SAR, linker design, and bifunctional molecule optimization.
• Strong knowledge of E3 ligase biology and degrader mechanisms.
• Experience collaborating with ADME/DMPK, biology and computational chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the TPD chemistry strategy, including degrader design principles and platform evolution.
• Lead TPD chemistry efforts on programs and guide development candidate selection.
• Establish linker and building block strategies, including sourcing and synthesis of ligands and linkers.
• Collaborate with ADME/DMPK to shape properties and developability for TPD molecules.
• Help define new modalities beyond CRBN/VHL and expand extracellular protein degradation capabilities.

Skills

TPD leadership

Medicinal chemistry

Heterobifunctional degraders

E3 ligase biology

Cross-functional leadership

SAR design

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Job description

Jnana Therapeutics seeks an experienced medicinal chemist to lead our Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) chemistry strategy. You will guide platform direction, shape design principles, and steer multiple programs toward development candidates.

This role combines scientific leadership with hands-on execution, driving rapid iteration and enabling next-generation degradation modalities such as extracellular protein degradation.