Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist, Chemical Synthesis
About The Position
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist to join our high-throughput autonomous chemistry team. This is a hands-on role at the intersection of organic and inorganic synthesis, advanced characterization, and laboratory automation. You will design and execute high-throughput experiments, synthesize small molecules, and perform rigorous downstream analysis while working side-by-side with senior scientists to translate ambitious product goals into scalable experimental workflows that directly drive our company’s growth. This position offers first-hand exposure to automated chemistry platforms, with real ownership over experiments that inform company strategy and scientific direction. Ideal candidates are execution-driven, thrive in fast-paced laboratory environments, and are eager to build deep technical expertise while contributing meaningfully to next-generation chemical discovery at Lila Sciences.
Requirements
- M.S. in Chemistry or related discipline (organic, organometallics, catalysis) with 2+ years of hands-on high-fidelity laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting, or B.S. + 5 years
- Hands-on experience in organic/inorganic synthesis, purification, chromatographic techniques, product analysis
- Strong understanding of retrosynthesis, reaction mechanisms, and method optimization workflows
- Proficiency with analytical techniques such as TLC, HPLC, LCMS, NMR, and IR
- Ability to follow SOPs and work safely with diverse chemical reagents and automated platforms
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary research environment
- Required proficiency in using SciFinder, Reaxys, Chemdraw to search public database and literature
- Basic proficiency in Python or other scripting languages for data handling
- Good document practices, strong attention to detail and a proactive, problem-solving mindset
- Effective oral and written communication skills; contributed to internal reports, technical documentation, or peer-reviewed publications
Nice To Haves
- Experience with high-throughput or AI-driven automated platforms
- Authored publications in peer-reviewed journals in chemical catalysis, organic methodology
- Ability to handle air/moisture/light sensitive compounds
Responsibilities
- Independently execute experiments to synthesize, purify, and characterize organic and inorganic small molecules
- Optimize reactions, perform method development, and interpret analytical data to guide project decisions
- Translate early-stage ideas into reproducible, functional experiments
- Apply retrosynthetic planning to support target molecule synthesis
- Operate Schlenk lines, gloveboxes, and other inert-atmosphere systems for sensitive compounds
- Use PAT tools (UPLC, LCMS, NMR, IR, Fluroescence, DLS) to monitor reactions, ensure quality control, and generate high-quality data for ML workflows
- Leverage automation and AI-driven platforms to accelerate workflows and reduce experimental cycle times
- Collaborate with engineers, ML scientists, and stakeholders to validate model-suggested conditions, analyze trends, troubleshoot issues, and communicate results clearly through reports, discussions, and presentations
- Document results, maintain accurate digital records and adhere to EHS and laboratory best practices
Benefits
- We expect the base salary for this role to fall between $80,000–$118,000 USD per year, along with bonus potential and generous early equity.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
101-250 employees
