Scientist/Chemist with High Throughput Experimentation

(ID: 2025-0501)

Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Axle is seeking a Scientist/Chemist with High Throughput Experimentation (HTE) experience to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Center for Advancing Translation Sciences (NCATS) located in Rockville, MD.

Benefits We Offer:

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• 401K match up to 5%
• Educational Benefits for Career Growth
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Healthcare (FSA)
  • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
  • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
  • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Summary:

A successful Scientist will join a team at NCATS consisting of chemists with a diversity of skills including Medicinal Chemistry, Automated Synthesis, Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Data Science, Analytical Chemistry etc. Candidate will have access to state-of-the art techniques and instrumentation to design and synthesize small organic molecules to advance drug discovery projects across a range of modalities. The key application area and focus will be high-throughput experimentation, high-throughput synthesis, reaction automation and AI/ML approaches. 

Candidate will be responsible for:

• Design and synthesis of small organic molecules, including both automated and manual tools/approaches. 
• Designing and executing automated experiments to optimize chemical reactions, perform chemical rout scouting and/or discover new chemical transformations that impact medicinal chemistry projects 
• Designing and performing HTE experiments in different formats to generate and collect reaction outputs that can be utilized for data and AI/ML-driven applications within NCATS
• Candidate should be familiar with chromatography, spectroscopy, and spectrometry techniques with an aim to elucidate reaction mechanism and accurately characterize molecules 
• Ability to maintain a very productive lab presence is required
• Designing and executing semi-automated and automated experiments to effectively carry out structure-activity relationships (SAR) campaigns on drug discovery projects
• Streamlining workflows and developing automated laboratory processes.
• Becoming an expert in high-throughput synthesis workflows and providing training to other team members on HTE and other automated workflows when necessary
• Learning programming and debugging with Python, Pipeline Pilot, relational databases, SQL, LIMS or other relevant enterprise software packages.
• To be able to clearly create reports and to be able to communicate results to key partners, through various channels including in-person and virtual meetings
• Collaborations are the core of NCATS! Thus, the candidate is expected to have excellent communication skills (written and oral) 
• This position is fully on-site

Education:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field is required. 
• An advanced degree (Master's, PhD) is preferred

Experience and expertise:

• Experience in high-throughput chemistry workflows (e.g., parallel synthesis, high-throughput experimentation, direct-to-biology)
• Proficiency in coding and data science tools is preferred
• Experience with operating automated synthesis platforms (e.g., ChemSpeed, Metler Toledo, Tecan, Unchained Labs, Mosquito/DragonFly etc.) is preferred
• Extensive experience with multi-dimensional data analysis tools, including Virscidian/Spotfire or equivalent is preferred

Disclaimer: The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed.

The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: [email protected]

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

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