Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love.

That’s what makes us Roche.

In Roche’s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organization (pRED), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

This position is located in pRED Therapeutic Modalities, where we pave, in a diverse, ambitious and innovative environment, the path to bring drug candidates from early research into development.

The position holder will be member of the newly formed cross-functional RNAHub, where disease-biologists, nonclinical development experts, molecular biologists, molecule engineers, bioengineers and data scientists from various pRED functions join together to create and apply technologies that perturb RNA to discover drugs, biomarkers and targets.

The RNAHub takes a very data-centric approach, utilizing both artificial and human intelligence, that requires a high degree of data-literacy. In the RNAHub, we build a strong, collective and engaged community, where we employ, explore and evolve new ways of working in a research environment.

Job Mission

We are offering an outstanding opportunity for a Senior (Principal) Associate - Oligonucleotide Synthesis & Purification to join a multidisciplinary team of scientists working on a diverse portfolio of drug discovery projects.

In your role, you will be responsible for the discovery of innovative synthetic approaches to access complex oligonucleotides formats (including mixed modalities) to support several R&D projects. You will also help develop robust processes for the scale up of new Oligonucleotide APIs and represent preclinical CMC with project teams.

Your Tasks and Responsibilities

• Independently synthesize and purify complex oligonucleotides on different synthesis scales

• Develop and implement purification strategies for oligonucleotides, utilizing high throughput technologies (eg Hamilton, Tecan, Integra)

• Continuously improve synthesis and purification processes to enable successful scale up in the CMC early supply group

• General focus on increasing automation level and related workflows

• Perform analytical characterization of synthesized oligonucleotides using techniques such as HPLC and mass spectrometry

• Maintain detailed records of experimental procedures, results, and observations. Prepare technical reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Your Profile

You thrive in a dynamic, inclusive environment which gives you full accountability for your own contributions and development. You have a keen interest in continuously building a personal network. You are resourceful and flexible in problem solving and in working in a collaborative and inclusive manner.

Your academic or industrial experience in chemistry of oligonucleotides allows you to support project teams from the project idea to optimization of clinical candidate oligonucleotides by managing the synthesis and scale up of complex oligonucleotide formats.

In addition you bring:

• Hands-on experience in synthesis via automated solid phase methodologies.

• Experience in state of the art purification technologies, especially focused on automation

• Knowledge of analytical methodologies routinely applied to oligonucleotide APIs (HPLC, LC-MS, UV spectroscopy, endotoxin measurement and control).

You have a sense for ensuring that everyone has the required information at all times. You have strong oral and written communication skills and are proficient in working with cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams.

Our commitment

Roche commits to recognising talent and aptitude. We prioritise encouraging and supporting our employees on their personal journeys by providing a safe, creative space to help them reflect, make decisions and grow in their career.

We are confident that we find the most innovative solutions by gaining different perspectives, asking and answering hard questions, and challenging the status quo. Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious yet enthusiastic way; we are devoted to building a team that represents a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.