Senior Chemist - Oligonucleotide Synthesis And Purification

About CPI

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

Why this role is important for CPI’s work

CPI is looking to recruit a Senior Chemist to join our growing team at the state-of-the-art Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC). Located in Renfrewshire, the MMIC is a collaboration between CPI, the University of Strathclyde, UK Research & Innovation, and Scottish Enterprise, and founding industry partners, AstraZeneca and GSK.

Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of oligonucleotide therapeutics in development. Understanding these complex molecules and processes is challenging with huge potential to advance understanding in this area. A new collaborative project at CPI will address this challenge by developing a novel digital tool to allow the simple definition of an oligonucleotide, prediction of impurity profile, identification of impurities from mass spectrometry data, and models describing the relationship between the manufacturing process and product quality.

This role is for a Senior Chemist, and we are looking for someone with a proven track record in project delivery in pharmaceutical development or similar complex synthetic chemistry development. Ideally, you will have experience in the synthesis and analysis of oligonucleotides or other macromolecules. The role holder will be considered a subject matter expert and will provide training and coaching for less experienced staff in your area of expertise.

You can read more about the exciting work we are doing on oligonucleotides here.

To see where you would be working and learn more about MMIC, please watch this video:

From unused Scottish land to global health impact: our Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre

Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre set to Transform UK Pharma

Key tasks in the Senior Chemist role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of nucleic acid chemistry, specifically phosphoramidite chemistry, and associated purification techniques such as anion exchange and reverse phase chromatography, and solvent extraction.
• Use, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance of oligo synthesizers, preparative chromatography, and other similar equipment
• Application of techniques such as LC-MS to the analysis of large macromolecules
• Using fundamental chemical understanding and interpretation of LC-MS spectra to identify impurities and to assign potential reaction mechanisms
• Assessment of process understanding and risk to enable the development of experimental programs to develop and improve process understanding.
• Understanding and application of experimental design and statistical concepts to experimental work.
• To stay abreast of the current state of the art in oligonucleotide synthesis and purification and take ownership of introducing new technologies into CPI.

The person we are seeking

To be successful, you need to:

• Be educated to Degree level (or equivalent) in a Scientific/Engineering discipline plus relevant industrial experience at a senior level, or educated to HNC level with significant industrial experience at a senior level
• Have in-depth and comprehensive experience in synthetic chemistry and/or analytical characterization as well as compelling evidence of complex technical problem-solving.
• Have experience and technical expertise in macromolecule synthesis using automated synthesizers and purification techniques including preparative chromatography
• Exhibit professional mastery of principles and practices in synthetic or analytical chemistry gained through career to date in area of expertise.
• Demonstrate evidence of building knowledge sharing and network building practice across teams and organisations to achieve desired results.
• Actively demonstrate in-depth technical and theoretical knowledge in synthetic chemistry and can participate at a high level in more than one area. Is viewed as an authority in at least one area by peers and managers.
• Be able to take responsibility for diverse or complex technical activities where it is necessary to use your own initiative and judgment, implementing innovative solutions in complex situations.

It would be great if you also had the following:

• Experience and technical expertise in the synthesis, purification, and analysis of oligonucleotides

• Experience and technical expertise in the interpretation of LC-MS spectra

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, EHS legislation, and best practices.

• Project management core disciplines

• Coaching and technical supervision of colleagues, upskilling and enabling their project delivery
• Active membership with a professional or industry body, engaging with peers beyond CPI.

What does CPI offer you?

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

Additional information

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.