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About the Company
We envision a world where we continuously, sustainably, and affordably improve human life with synthetic biology. Our proprietary set of enzymes and our manufacturing approach enables the production of thousands of amino acids that were previously too difficult and expensive to make. These “noncanonical” amino acids that we make are already catalyzing the creation of revolutionary and innovative products that are good for people and the planet.
Our technology outperforms traditional manufacturing approaches by 10–100x across the board. We already sell products to Big 10 Pharmaceutical companies, and our product family includes the key components of multi-billion dollar blockbuster drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
We are a diverse, passionate, interdisciplinary team that finds joy in building something new that leaves the world better than we found it. We strive to always learn and improve and have a deep desire to capitalize on our creativity and be exceptional at what we do.
About the role
The Research Associate will be primarily working within the manufacturing group to conduct biocatalytic reactions and install protecting groups on amino acid products. There will also be opportunities to work on process optimization and process scale-up to improve Aralez manufacturing processes. The incumbent will also be responsible for maintaining lab cleanliness, organization, chemical hygiene, and safe working conditions in collaboration with other members of the chemistry team.
What You’ll Do
- Optimize biocatalytic processes by running reactions at the analytical scale.
- Scale up biocatalytic reactions and isolate products at the multi-gram scale.
- Apply analytical methods to quantify the yield, activity, and purity of the biocatalytic reactions.
- Support biocatalytic production by synthesizing substrates or performing downstream synthetic steps according to SOPs
What You’ll Bring
Must have:
- BS in Chemistry or AS in Chemistry (including two semesters of Organic Chemistry with labs) and one to two years of relevant experience.
- Experience in applying organic chemistry techniques in a laboratory (e.g. undergraduate research experience, internship, work experience).
- Ability to interpret data from analytical instrumentation (LC-MS, HPLC, GC-MS, GC, UV-Vis, NMR).
- Familiarity and adherence to safe laboratory and chemical hygiene practices.
- Familiarity with modern office software (Microsoft Office, Google Suite).
Nice to have:
- Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation (LC-MS, HPLC, UV-Vis, NMR) and accompanying software, particularly Agilent Chemstation and Agilent Masshunter.
- Experience in a chemical manufacturing environment.
- Experience with amino acids and/or peptide chemistry and familiarity with the use of enzymes in chemical synthesis.
- Experience with Chemdraw.
- Experience with ELN or LIMS.
Essential traits:
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication: This role involves regular technical discussions among the team and requires diligent record-keeping and note-taking for reproducibility and maintaining ISO 9001 manufacturing certification of our site(s).
- Enjoying teamwork and collaboration: We are solving complex problems at the intersection of traditional synthetic chemistry, peptide chemistry, molecular biology, and fermentation. Fostering great working relationships with peers from various fields and backgrounds is key.
- Flexibility: At a growing early-stage startup like ours, adapting with the team and having a solid grasp shifting priorities is essential. During this growth phase we’re looking for someone who is excited to learn about and try different aspects of chemistry, lab management, and occasionally packaging and international shipping.
- Honesty and integrity: The chemistry team has quality standards that it must uphold, and we need to be able to trust the person in this role to act with integrity as they report yields, purities, and record processes.
- Able to give and receive feedback: It’s important for everyone on our team to be able to communicate what is and what is not working for them so that we can provide support where needed and make adjustments. Similarly, it’s important to be able to receive feedback aimed at improving one’s skills and effectiveness in their role.
Compensation
Aralez Bio’s salary range for this position is $28.85 - $38.46 hourly, based on your performance and experience. In addition, your total rewards package will include equity and benefits.
Benefits at Aralez Bio
- Medical / Dental / Vision coverage
- 401k
- Flexible Spending Account
- Unlimited time off policy
- Weekly catered lunch
- Professional Development opportunities
- Annual company retreat
Equal Employment Opportunity
Aralez Bio is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, sex, and any other group protected under federal, state, or local laws.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please reach out if an accommodation is needed. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Aralez Bio Berkeley, California, USA Office
Berkeley, CA, United States, 94720
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