Senior Scientist Enzyme and Oligonucleotide Development (EOD) UK

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Senior Scientist Enzyme and Oligonucleotide Development (EOD) UK

We are seeking a motivated Oligonucleotide chemist to join the Enzyme and Oligonucleotide Development (EOD) department at GSK’s flagship R&D site at Stevenage in Hertfordshire.

As a Senior Scientist in EOD UK you will use your process chemistry knowledge and expertise to optimise routes for manufacture of oligonucleotide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and contribute to the development and deployment of state-of-the-art processes and technologies enabling the delivery of our medicines. Potentially, you will lead significant parts of chemistry development programs, directing the work of other scientists globally in a matrix team.

As projects advance through development there may be opportunities to lead pilot plant supplies across scales, culminating in the transfer of projects to commercial manufacturing facilities around the globe. The role is highly technical and dynamic as you will be working in several multi-disciplinary project teams. You will thrive in this environment if you are able to effectively manage multiple priorities, communicate your recommendations clearly, and enjoy working in teams.

Based at our R&D hub at Stevenage, the concentration of a large number of scientists inspires a culture of inclusion, equity and diversity with a common goal of innovation and collaboration. The location also benefits from excellent facilities on site and in the surrounding area as well as fast train access to central London and Cambridge.

This role is on-site laboratory based but there may be some flexibility for remote working when work permits with manager approval.

In this role you will…

• Design and implement chemical routes and processes to oligonucleotide APIs suitable for scale up, with a focus on process understanding and the acquisition of the right data to support global regulatory filings
• Optimise chemical manufacturing processes complying with safety, quality, speed, cost, sustainability, reproducibility, and regulatory requirements in all aspects of work
• Have oversight of API manufacture on g to multi-ton scale to support clinical, regulatory, and commercial launch activities; potentially run internal facilities to support early tox API supply
• Work to cGMP standards as appropriate
• Participate in technology transfer activities to transfer new manufacturing processes to our commercial manufacturing partners as appropriate
• Generate comprehensive conclusion reports, author or contribute to regulatory submissions, patents, scientific papers, and other internal and external documentation relevant to the role
• Collaborate closely with scientists including analytical colleagues to contribute to accelerated development of new medicines
• Potentially lead projects within a CMC environment

Why you?

Basic Qualifications/Essentials:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• PhD or equivalent academic or industrial laboratory-based experience in Oligonucleotide Chemistry
• Proven track record of laboratory-scale chemistry execution and creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve potential issues effectively in a multi-functional team

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

We are looking for professionals with these preferred skills to achieve our goals:

• Extensive knowledge of oligonucleotide chemistry including potential routes of impurity formation
• Practical experience of laboratory scale oligonucleotide synthesis, purification and isolation using Cytiva equipment and Unicorn software
• Familiarity with techniques for development and understanding of scalable chemical processes e.g., kinetics, statistical design of experiments.
• Experience working with exploratory data analysis techniques in a programming environment, ideally involving analysis of oligonucleotide synthesis/purification data.
• Familiarity with control strategy requirements, e.g., analytical specifications, impurity purging and fate mapping, genotoxic impurity risk assessment
• Ability to effectively communicate in a multi-disciplinary working environment, ensuring every department is informed throughout the scientific division

Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 23rd March 2025

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert.

When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

GSK R&D

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people over the next 10 years. R&D is committed to discovering and delivering transformational vaccines and medicines to prevent and change the course of disease. Science and technology are coming together in a way they never have before, and we have strong tech-enabled capabilities that allow us to build a deeper understanding of the patient, human biology and disease mechanisms, and transform medical discovery.  We are revolutionising the way we do R&D. We’re uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

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Our approach to R&D.   

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