Associate Chemist / Technician / Research Associate II/III in organic/biochemical synthesis, formulation/process chemistry, and molecular assays.

Are you looking to join a company where you can do meaningful work, make a big impact, and grow your career by being part of a high-growth startup company? Do you thrive in an environment where you can see the direct result of your work and can make a positive influence on the company and team around you? Client is a new biotech company in Germantown that is led by a team of industry veterans and experts in their field who have come together to make a significant impact on both human health and environmental sustainability.

Overview

This pivotal role is designed for a dynamic and innovative technician or research associate with expertise in organic and biochemical synthesis, who is passionate about advancing enzymatic assay technologies. As a key contributor to our R&D team, the candidate will engage in designing buffering systems, optimizing cell culture media formulations, establishing manufacturing process controls, and analyzing chromogenic and fluorogenic reactions. The candidate will play a critical role in driving the development of cutting-edge reagent platforms that underpin endotoxin and beta-glucan diagnostic assays, as well as microbial detection and novel filtration systems. Other laboratory assignments may include assistance in protein extractions and analysis for SDS-PAGE, western blotting, and activity assays, and DNA and RNA extractions for qPCR and sequencing analyses.

This position demands a blend of synthetic chemistry prowess, biochemical insight, and practical formulation skills, enabling you to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and influence product innovation from concept through manufacturing to commercialization.

Joining us means contributing to impactful projects that directly affect molecular biology research and clinical diagnostic advancements, with opportunities to grow professionally in a collaborative, science-driven environment.

Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience in multi-step organic reaction design and control, including media processing, characterization, and purification to optimize final reaction systems.
• Strong background in enzymatic reactions design, enzyme kinetics, and chromogenic substrate chemistry
• Experience with buffer/media formulation for biological systems
• Proficiency with analytical instruments
• Ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments independently.
• Knowledgeable in optimizing chromatography techniques to separate and analyze compounds.
• Skilled in analyzing the light absorption and emission properties of chromophores.
• Familiarity with the chemical principles behind diagnostic tests and assays.
• Experienced in molecular cell biology techniques for genetic modifications, and for the extraction, purification, and quantification of proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in assay workflows.
• Experience with ISO/GMP environments: understanding quality standards and regulatory requirements in manufacturing and laboratory settings.
• Trained in planning experiments to validate how products maintain quality over time under various conditions.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex biochemical reactions and optimize protocol efficiency.
• Attention to detail and demonstrate precision in experimental design, data recording, and quality control to ensure reproducibility and reliability.
• Effective communication, clear documentation, and collaboration skills to work with various teams.
• Adaptability and continuous learning, willingness to stay updated with the latest advances, and adapt methods accordingly.
• Capability of working well in multidisciplinary teams, including R&D, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs.
• Efficient management of multiple projects and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to laboratory safety protocols and ethical research practices.
• Designing novel assays, substrates, or synthetic routes to solve challenging problems
• Excellent documentation and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Formulation/Process Chemistry: Design, develop, and optimize new product formulations, ensuring they meet specific performance, quality, and stability attributes. This includes selecting appropriate ingredients (e.g., active ingredients, buffers, binders, solvents) and determining the right combination and concentrations.
• Media and buffer formulation: Preparing nutrient solutions or chemical environments that support enzymatic reactions. Balancing acidity (pH) and osmolarity to maintain optimal conditions, selecting additives to stabilize components, and ensuring the formulation can be reliably produced at larger scales.
• Enzymatic assay development: Designing tests to measure enzymatic activity, studying reaction rates (kinetics), applying Michaelis-Menten models to understand enzyme behavior, determining which substrates enzymes act on specifically, assessing inhibitors that reduce activity, and ensuring the assay performs consistently under various conditions.
• Chromogenic/fluorogenic substrate synthesis: Designing the chromophores, adjusting their optical properties for sensitivity, testing the molecules’ stability, and performing quality control to guarantee reliable detection.
• Analytical Testing: Use various and advanced analytical instruments and techniques (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, GC, UV-Vis spectroscopy, rheology, viscometers) to characterize reaction components, analyze data, and ensure product specifications are met.
• Organic synthesis: Planning and carrying out complex chemical reactions to build organic molecules step-by-step, including modifying specific parts of molecules (functional groups), attaching molecular linkers, and purifying products using techniques such as FPLC or flash chromatography to increase purity and increase product yield.
• Bioconjugation chemistry: Chemically linking biomolecules, such as attaching enzymes to substrates/surfaces, using chemical agents like crosslinkers and activated esters to create stable bonds, enabling functionalization of molecules for assay purposes.
• Protein/enzyme handling: Isolating proteins and enzymes from mixtures, storing them under conditions that preserve function, measuring their activity through assays, and optimizing conditions to maintain their stability over time. Experience with molecular techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, Immunocytochemistry, ELISA, qPCR, or any other analytical platform.
• Mammalian media knowledge: Understanding nutrient requirements of mammalian cells, using agents that select for or against certain organisms, incorporating chromogenic indicators that signal biological activity, and applying quality control measures to ensure media consistency.
• Assay troubleshooting: Diagnosing problems when assays do not work as expected, such as enzyme inactivity, poor media support, or breakdown of substrates, and implementing corrective actions to restore assay performance.
• Method development and optimization: Improving experimental methods by adjusting conditions to enhance reaction yields and stability of formulations.
• Scale-up and process transfer: Moving syntheses or formulations from bench scale to pilot or production scale. Adapting laboratory-scale processes to larger volumes for manufacturing, ensuring consistency and quality.
• Documentation and SOP writing: Writing detailed, clear, and regulatory-compliant SOPs and documentation to ensure reproducibility and compliance.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Working with QC, manufacturing, R&D biology teams, and regulatory groups. Collaborating effectively across different departments to align goals, share data, and ensure smooth project progression.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree with 2-4 years’ industry experience in Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, or related field.
• Master’s degree with 2 years’ industry experience is preferable.