Research Scientist III, Oligo Chemistry
About The Position
Bring more to life. Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology? At Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact. You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life. Our team at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), is united by a commitment to collaboration and scientific excellence, building on a strong foundation of innovation, expertise, and reliability. Guided by our vision to help researchers rapidly move from the lab to life-changing advances, we work closely with global partners to accelerate progress and genomics breakthroughs across fields like cancer, infectious disease, rare genetic disorders, and more. At IDT, you’ll be part of a culture rooted in continuous learning and improvement—where your growth fuels our mission to accelerate the pace of genomics and helps shape a healthier, brighter future for all. Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible. The Research Scientist III is responsible for developing methods for the production and testing of new oligonucleotide products. The ideal candidate in this laboratory role will work with us to develop new product designs and processes, and participate in the transfer of that technology into process/product validation activities. General duties include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting results, followed by communicating those results to both internal and external groups. This position reports to the Staff Scientist and is part of the Emerging Technology team located in Sunnyvale, CA and will be an on-site role.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, or a related discipline; Ph.D. preferred.
- 3+ years of industrial hands‑on laboratory experience in the synthesis of unique oligonucleotide targets or closely related chemistry
- Strong practical expertise in phosphoramidite chemistry and solid‑phase oligo synthesis
- Experience using LC‑MS (high‑resolution preferred) or other orthogonal methods to characterize oligos and diagnose synthesis or process issues
- Proven experience optimizing synthesis or downstream process steps, including cleavage, deprotection, and purification
Nice To Haves
- Background in high-throughput biology, automation, and NGS-based analysis.
- Working with prototype instrumentation and collaborating with engineers.
- Environmental health and safety coordination work.
Responsibilities
- Develop oligonucleotide synthesis workflows with a strong focus on phosphoramidite chemistry and solid‑phase synthesis
- Apply organic chemistry principles to improve synthesis efficiency, yield, and product quality
- Design, execute, and optimize post-synthesis process steps, including cleavage, deprotection, and purification (e.g., cartridge, HPLC, or other relevant methods), utilizing high‑resolution mass spectrometry (LC‑MS) and complementary analytical techniques to assess oligo identity, purity, and failure modes
- Contribute to evaluation and implementation of new reagents, chemistries, or process improvements for oligo synthesis platforms
- Other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- paid time off
- medical/dental/vision insurance
- 401(k)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
