Internship – DNA ENCODED LIBRARIES (DELs)

Who we are

Philogen is a Swiss-Italian integrated biotechnology company founded in 1996, with the mission to develop innovative biopharmaceuticals for targeted therapy (http://www.philogen.com). Philochem AG is the R&D department of Philogen, located in Otelfingen (Zurich, Switzerland).

Job description

Philochem AG is seeking a highly motivated and collaborative intern to join our DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) team. We focus on creating innovative DELs designed to identify selective protein binders of pharmaceutical interest, with a particular emphasis on applications in tumor targeting. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, synthesizing, and screening libraries against protein targets. Additionally, they will re-synthesize hit candidates identified from high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• Teaming up with the laboratory manager to ensure good work organization;
• Design and plan scientific projects related to R&D (synthesis of new DELs);
• Synthesize, purify, and characterize small molecule-oligonucleotide conjugates (library members) and assemble innovative DNA-encoded libraries (DELs);
• Discovery of novel HIT candidates screening our DELs;
• Discover novel hit candidates (small organic molecules) by screening our DELs;
• Re-synthesise and validate the selected HIT candidates.

Minimum requirements

• A master’s Degree in Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry. Candidates with a PhD will not be considered for this position.
• Experience with organic chemistry and organic synthesis of small molecules.
• Experience with small molecule purification and characterization (HPLC, LC-MS, NMR).
• Experience with DEL synthesis and screening is a plus.
• Experience with peptide synthesis is a plus.
• Experience with protein production and purification is a plus.
• Experience with analytical chemistry.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of conveying technical information in a clear and thorough manner.
• Strive for scientific excellence and attention to detail while being pragmatic.
• Ability to see the big picture and strategic thinking.
• Strong team player with curiosity for the view of others.
• Fluency in oral and written English is a must.

How to apply