Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

---

Job description

A career with EMD Serono is an ongoing journey of discovery: our 58,000 people are shaping how the world lives, works and plays through next generation advancements in Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics. For more than 350 years and across the world we have passionately pursued our curiosity to find novel and vibrant ways of enhancing the lives of others. EMD Serono is a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

EMD Serono is the North American biopharma brand of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany - a leading science and technology company - focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the brand has integrated cutting edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas.

Your Role:

• The Principal Scientist will contribute to the achievement of drug discovery project goals through the synthesis of target molecules by applying modern organic synthetic methods and following best medicinal chemistry practices and will:
• Serve as target chemist and coordinate/prioritize the work of several internal or external (CRO) scientists working on the same project
• Generate ideas for new molecules based on SAR/SPR analysis, structural information, HTS, fragment screening results, literature reports or other information. Prioritize ideas, devise compound optimization strategies, form/test hypotheses for compound property improvements
• Independently develop and execute routes for the synthesis of target molecules, as well as troubleshoot reactions and multistep reaction sequences
• Be expert in mining chemical and other scientific literature
• Propose and explore alternative synthetic routes, and synthetic strategies
• Maintain close collaboration with fellow chemists and scientists from other disciplines in a team environment that is focused on achieving success towards common goals
• Prepare and deliver reports, internal and external presentations in timely manner
• Ensure that the company's intellectual property is fully protected by keeping detailed experimental details in laboratory notebooks according to company policy
• Keep supervisor informed of progress and activities. Participates actively in department meetings, project meetings
• Follow safe laboratory practices and complies with EHS, safety officers, and delegates to ensure that the laboratory is a safe environment. Recognizes potential safety issues, discusses them with EHS and management, and takes action to rectify them
• Assume responsibility for certain pieces of laboratory equipment, ensures that they are properly maintained and serviced, and facilitates their use by other scientists

Who you are:

Minimum

• Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry or related science
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required
• 5+ years of related post-degree experience in Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry
• Must have proven scientific expertise in Organic synthesis and Medicinal chemistry
• Publication record in peer reviewed journals

Preferred

• Experience in protein degradation and/or molecular glues preferred
• Self-driven, self-motivated, with scientific curiosity
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong team spirit and good interpersonal skills
• Adaptability, flexibility

What we offer: With us, there are always opportunities to break new ground. We empower you to fulfil your ambitions, and our diverse businesses offer various career moves to seek new horizons. We trust you with responsibility early on and support you to draw your own career map that is responsive to your aspirations and priorities in life. Join us and bring your curiosity to life!

Curious? Apply and find more information at

The Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, marital status, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy of Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all policies and programs relating to recruitment and hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, discipline, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Any applicant or employee who believes they have been discriminated against by the Company or anyone acting on behalf of the Company must report any concerns to their Human Resources Business Partner, Legal, or Compliance immediately. The Company will not retaliate against any individual because they made a good faith report of discrimination.