Research Scientist, Life Sciences (Chemistry)

The shape of it

In the posting’s own words

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every single qualification. Not all strong candidates will meet every single qualification as listed. Research shows that people who identify as being from underrepresented groups are more prone to experiencing imposter syndrome and doubting the strength of their candidacy, so we urge you not to exclude yourself prematurely and to submit an application if you're interested in this work. We think AI systems like the ones we're building have enormous social and ethical implications. We think this makes representation even more important, and we strive to include a range of diverse perspectives on our team. Your safety matters to us. To protect yourself from potential scams, remember that Anthropic recruiters only contact you from @anthropic.com email addresses. In some cases, we may partner with vetted recruiting agencies who will identify themselves as working on behalf of Anthropic. Be cautious of emails from other domains. Legitimate Anthropic recruiters will never ask for money, fees, or banking information before your first day. If you're ever unsure about a communication, don't click any links—visit anthropic.com/careers directly for confirmed position openings.

What it asks for · 4

• PhD in chemistry
• Demonstrated medicinal chemistry experience, including SAR-driven design and optimization of small molecules, with recent, sustained hands-on synthetic work
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and defining problems in a rapidly evolving research environment
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams, with strong written and verbal communication skills

Also a plus

• 5+ years of medicinal chemistry experience beyond the PhD
• Track record of advancing programs from hit identification through lead optimization
• Experience directing synthetic chemistry activities at contract research organizations
• Computational chemistry, cheminformatics, or coding skills, for example Python with RDKit or pandas for data analysis and automation
• Experience using AI or ML tools in the life sciences
• Publications and/or patents demonstrating scientific impact

What the job covers

• Design multi-step synthetic routes for small molecules and oversee their execution end to end, including route selection, reaction optimization, purification strategy, and interpretation of full characterization data (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC)
• Coordinate synthesis and biological evaluation with external contract research organizations and academic partners
• Evaluate AI-designed molecules and AI-proposed synthetic routes, drive them to experimental readout, and feed results back to research teams
• Apply medicinal chemistry principles, including SAR analysis and physicochemical property optimization, to compound design and prioritization
• Ensure experimental data across programs is high quality and well documented, including procedures, spectra, and failure modes
• Communicate findings clearly to chemistry, AI research, and life sciences audiences

Degree language

• PhD in chemistry

Tools and skills named

Words the posting leans on

• chemistry9×
• research8×
• experience5×
• data4×
• end4×
• experimental4×
• life sciences4×
• medicinal chemistry4×
• optimization4×
• biological3×
• design3×
• hands-on3×
• programs3×
• small molecules3×
• synthetic routes3×
• ai-designed molecules2×

Counted from the posting after the mission statement and the legal notices are set aside. The ones near the top are the ones a screener is looking for.

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