Pharma Analytical Chemist

Cogent Scientific•Watertown, MA

10d•$78,000 - $82,000•Onsite

About The Position

Cogent Scientific is hiring a Pharma Analytical Chemist to provide specialized laboratory services supporting the life sciences industry. The role focuses on analytical method development and validation, routine quality control testing, and characterization of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) components, RNA, proteins, and conjugates. The chemist will troubleshoot methods and instruments, interpret analytical data, identify trends, and communicate findings to the team. This is an onsite day-shift position at the Watertown, Massachusetts site; remote and hybrid schedules are not accommodated.

Requirements

BS or MS in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
0–5 years of laboratory experience in analytical sciences, drug delivery, biologics, or nucleic acid therapeutics.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work well independently and within a team.
Strong problem-solving skills, learning agility, and ability to work across functions.
Enthusiasm, self-motivation, leadership and communication skills, and an adaptable approach to delivering goals in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

Develop, optimize, and validate HPLC-based methods for RNA quantification and purity assessment.
Develop and troubleshoot LC-MS/MS methods for LNP lipid component and RNA quantification.
Perform routine QC testing of LNP batches, including lipid quantification, RNA integrity, and total RNA content.
Determine encapsulation efficiency using orthogonal methods such as HPLC, AEX, and RiboGreen.
Perform separations-based characterization using SEC, HIC, AEX/IEX, and RPLC.
Support protein and conjugate characterization using CE-SDS, cIEF, and LC-MS peptide mapping.
Investigate and troubleshoot chromatographic performance, sample preparation, and instrument issues.
Analyze and interpret data, identify trends, and present findings to the team.