Research Scientist, Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Dayhoff Labs • Cambridge, MA

21h

About The Position

The Research Scientist, Synthetic Organic Chemistry will combine organic synthesis with analytical expertise to synthesize biological molecules—including peptides, nucleic acid derivatives, and modified building blocks—and develop methods to understand their behavior in chemical and biochemical reactions. Analytical method development is central to the role, including using chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify products, quantify reaction progress, and resolve complex mixtures. The scientist will work closely with enzymologists and computational scientists to determine what to make, how to measure it, and what results reveal about the underlying chemistry.

The company is a small, diverse team of AI engineers, computational scientists, and bench scientists working on research into the origin of life and molecular networks. The team operates globally, with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and London, UK. Visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.

Requirements

• Practical experience in organic synthesis of biological molecules, particularly peptides and/or nucleic acid derivatives.
• Strong analytical method development skills, including sample preparation, chromatographic separation, and quantitative mass spectrometry.
• Hands-on experience with triple-quadrupole LC-MS/MS and Orbitrap-based proteomics.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot synthetic and analytical problems, including poor reaction yields, ambiguous spectra, and matrix effects.
• Sound scientific judgment about experimental design, data quality, and what measurements can support.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with solid-phase peptide or oligonucleotide synthesis, bioconjugation, or non-canonical building blocks.
• Familiarity with acoustic ejection technologies for sample handling or mass spectrometry.
• Experience developing high-throughput analytical workflows or integrating methods with laboratory automation.
• Experience characterizing enzyme-catalyzed reactions or working closely with chemical biologists and enzymologists.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute syntheses of biological molecules and their derivatives, optimizing reaction conditions and purification strategies.
• Develop and troubleshoot LC-MS/MS methods, particularly triple-quadrupole methods for targeted quantification of substrates and products.
• Apply Orbitrap-based proteomics workflows to characterize peptides, proteins, and their modifications.
• Establish compound identity and purity using chromatography, NMR, and mass spectrometry.
• Collaborate with experimental and computational colleagues to design assays, test proposed chemistry, and investigate unexpected results.
• Build reproducible synthetic and analytical workflows with appropriate controls, calibration, and clear documentation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed