Johnson & Johnson is recruiting for a Senior Principal Scientist, Peptide Chemistry located in Spring House, PA.

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The Peptide group within Global Discovery Chemistry group is committed to the delivery of high-quality drug candidates working across all Therapeutic Areas (TAs). This mission requires deep scientific expertise in a number of disciplines including chemistry, cellular and molecular pharmacology, enzymology, and screening technologies coupled with an ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners.

We are seeking an experienced, highly skilled, and motivated chemist with excellent peptide chemistry and medicinal chemistry expertise to shepherd peptide drug discovery programs and advance them toward the clinic. This position will require the candidate to possess and leverage deep knowledge and capabilities to deliver differentiated clinical candidates to the product development pipeline within our Disease and Pathway Area Stronghold (DAS and PAS) strategy. Using a mix of internal and external resources, the Principal Scientist will partner with key stakeholders in the TAs and other internal groups, represent medicinal chemistry, lead cross-functional project teams, and be co-responsible for building, managing, and delivering high quality clinical molecules.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently designing and synthesizing drug-like peptide molecules utilizing current medicinal chemistry knowledge, including property-based optimization, and an understanding of ADME, pharmacokinetics and optimal physicochemical properties.

• Drive Medicinal Chemistry, Peptide programs for one or more drug discovery projects, working in concert with partners in molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, computational chemistry, ADME, structural biology, chemical development, and contract research organizations (CROs).

• Apply and build Peptide capabilities using state-of-the-art design, chemistry, and technology across Therapeutic Discovery.

• Excellent communication to develop effective partnerships across J&J and with external partners.

• Contribute to portfolio and stage-gate reviews, lead the preparation and presentation of dossiers for clinical candidate nomination and compound advancement.

• Serve as a scientific expert in peptide and medicinal chemistry with both internal and external partners and provide recommendations regarding emerging opportunities.

• Analyze synthetic routes to designed compounds, screening data, perform literature reviews, design, propose, and execute medicinal chemistry plans, coordinate chemistry and biology data to support compound progression and patent strategies.

• Provide scientific direction and leadership for synthetic and medicinal chemistry activities of internal, external FTEs and CROs. This role may have direct people management responsibilities.

• Participate in shaping and implementing strategies that support synthetic and medicinal chemistry growth objectives at J&J, including academic relations and talent acquisition

• Ensure optimal interaction/communication and provide updates on project status to leadership

• Maintain a significant level of productivity in the laboratory setting

Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in peptide, synthetic organic, or medicinal chemistry or relevant industrial experience with a minimum of 5 years or BS and a minimum of 8-10 years additionally in the biopharmaceutical industry working with Peptides is required.

Experience and Skills:

Required:

• Experience designing peptides using computational modeling tools including (1) peptide conformational restraints to influence secondary structure, (2) constrained macrocycles for affinity or properties, and/or (3) de-peptidization strategies including back-bone modifications and peptidomimetics

• Good understanding of cellular/molecular biology, biochemistry, disease pharmacology, mechanisms of drug metabolism and molecular toxicology, pharmaco-kinetic and pharmaco-dynamic sciences, and formulations for the in vivo evaluation of drug candidates

• Knowledge of and/or experience with computational chemistry methods and biophysical techniques such as X-ray crystallography and macromolecular NMR

• Strong problem-solving skills for developing creative, innovative solutions, and meeting project objectives

• Demonstrated influence, negotiation, and conflict resolution

Preferred:

Experience is:

• Permeable and orally bioavailable peptides

• Peptide hit finding approaches

• Intracellular protein-protein interaction targets

• Cell penetrating peptides

• Chemical biology using cyclic peptide scaffolds

• Strong track record of scientific contributions including peer reviewed first-author publications, patent applications, and presentations at major national meetings

• Oral peptide design strategies, including half-life extension approaches and incorporation of unnatural amino acids is preferred

• Demonstrated operational skills for contributing to discovery programs at the level of a senior chemist

• Broad experience and proven accomplishments in one or more Therapeutic Areas

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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