Scientist, Process Development

Medicines for All (M4ALL) a part of Virginia Commonwealth University is an entrepreneurial impact-oriented institute founded with a commitment to improving access to medications across the globe by driving down production costs. We do this in part by developing low-cost high-quality routes for the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Position Primary Purpose and General Duties:

We are seeking mission-driven professionals to join our team in tackling critical global health challenges in the position of Scientist Process Development! M4ALL strives to be a global center of excellence to drive increased access to pharmaceuticals and through this role you will support the development and management of current and planned programs at the intersection of chemistry pharmaceuticals manufacturing and medicine value chain.

This role encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities including research and development communications as well as project and relationship management. As a Scientist Process Development you will be responsible for building the scientific excellence of the Institute by delivering superior research results in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Your efforts will be directed toward the design and development of multistep synthetic routes to approved and investigational active pharmaceutical ingredients with an emphasis on process research (route scouting) development (optimization demonstrative scale-up) and tech transfer.

Process Innovation

• Conduct and thoroughly document literature reviews for target chemical transformations intermediates and APIs.

• Conceptualize practical synthetic strategies (route design / retrosynthesis) for target APIs and intermediates. Assess viability of prospective routes with a view to low-cost raw materials.

• Maintain strong technical literacy. Develop hypothesis-driven experimental plans. In process research efficiently screen many valid reaction conditions and identify trends for improved outcomes. In process development perform careful data-rich experiments that create a deep knowledge of the chemical system. Translate previous results into new experiments that will lead to lower costs and/or process improvements.

• Execute chemical reactions on screening (milligram to gram) and preparative (decagram to kilogram) scales in the context of process research (route scouting) and development (optimization).

• Leverage high-throughput experimentation equipment and software (including automation) to achieve efficient cycles of design-test-analyze and build M4ALL reaction databases.

• Deliver results in a high-pace and time-sensitive environment.

• Demonstrate robust data interpretation. Incorporate data-driven insights into reports and designs for chemical processes.

• Maintain a detailed accurate and up-to-date electronic lab notebook (ELN) to ensure robust knowledge management.

Project Management

• Demonstrate timely and proficient use of M4ALLs project management technology platforms to facilitate internal and external communications.

• Demonstrate project budget awareness and good stewardship in the purchase and use of consumables reagents solvents key starting materials and intermediates.

• Adhere to project timeline and deliverable commitments. Escalate risks and deviations to ensure client transparency.

Strategy Development & Execution

• Support the development of new technology platforms that accelerate drug substance development and differentiate M4ALLs technical offerings. (Advanced Chemistry Technology)

• Challenge the status quo by continuously reviewing personal work processes and questioning traditional or established processes with the aim of constantly improving M4ALL operations and customer / collaborator experience.

Interdepartmental and External Communications

• Prepare clear accurate and concise written project updates and reports (pptx docx) representing your contributions. Contribute well-written high-quality scientific content for publication e.g. peer-reviewed articles trade journal articles white papers M4ALL social media. (Technical Writing)

• Orally present research updates and reports on findings in-person or virtually for internal consumption. Develop and deliver high quality oral presentations (posters group meetings) to internal scientific and non-scientific audiences. (Verbal / Oral Communications)

• Recognize signs of interpersonal or project misalignment. Attempt to resolve misunderstandings with support of line manager if needed. Seek clarity on responsibilities and expectations to minimize misalignments or misunderstandings. (Conflict Resolution)

• Contribute to variety of scientific materials such as paper studies publications manuscripts (as above) and other documents supporting ongoing and future work in the labs (e.g. SOPs Work Instructions Hazard Assessments etc.)

Team & Infrastructure Development

• Support onboarding new Scientists Technicians and Postdocs as members of buddy network to ease their transition into the M4ALL team.

• Develop a thorough understanding of M4ALL tech (IT) and infrastructure for critical unit operations how to use it. (Leverage and Grow Technology Prowess)

Mindset

• Demonstrate resource stewardship accountability commitment to quality work appreciation of your works criticality to the M4ALL mission (Ownership)

• Show willingness to compromise on pathways to a common goal putting clients priorities first (Flexibility)

• Show willingness to change course in the face of changing business needs and opportunities. Be resilient in face of change. (Adaptability)

• Listen to stakeholders (internal and external) and address needs and concerns. Deliver on service commitments: Maintain supportive relationships with stakeholders. (Service Excellence)

As a team member all that you do will be aligned with VCUs and M4ALLs core values:

• Mission-First: Our organization and our work are in service of our mission.

• Integrity: We pursue the highest standards of honesty respect and professional and scholarly ethics

• Safety: We are diligent in ensuring the safety of our team in our day-to-day work

• People: We treat each other with respect and we are committed to creating opportunities for our people to develop and thrive.

• Customer Service: We operate with our customers in mind and build our products and services to meet their needs.

• Adaptable: We are willing to change as individuals and as an organization to adapt to new opportunities and new ideas.

• Healthy Communication: We are boldly transparent seeking to understand and to build understanding striving for clarity and impact.

• Collaborative: We believe that collaboration internally and externally is going to deliver the highest quality solutions for our customers.

Required Education & Technical Abilities

• PhD in organic organometallic or inorganic chemistry. Individuals with significant years experience and training equivalent to a PhD will be considered.

• Ability to publish research findings in high impact scientific journals. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate a proven track record of publications.

• Knowledge of industrial process research process development scale-up and tech transfer

• Strong understanding of and experience with all analytical methods relevant to synthetic organic chemistry (NMR HPLC MS IR UV etc).

Required Interpersonal Skills & Individual Aptitude

• Full professional proficiency of the English language (speaking reading and writing) with the ability to communicate technical concepts to audiences of varying backgrounds. This includes the ability to use English fluently and accurately as well as write in all styles and forms on all levels pertinent to the professional needs.

• Comfort and confidence to give presentations in a clear and concise way that is understandable by the audience and flows smoothly from beginning to end.

• Accountability and collaborative mindset to achieve organizational success for high quality timely and cost-effective results within specified deadlines.

• Innovative and creative problem solving to develop solutions/alternatives understanding of the feasibility and the value in taking responsible risks.

• Open-mindedness and commitment to valuing diversity inclusion and belonging in a multicultural work environment. M4ALL supports a diverse faculty staff and student environment.

• Energy and passion to thrive in a start-up environment and to deliver on the organizations goals mission and values balancing the interests of ones own with those of the broader organization.

• Commitment to aligning and adherence to M4ALLs core values and purpose.

Internal candidates must have successfully completed their 12-month probationary period in order to be considered

Desired qualifications that add value although not required:

• Experience with advanced concepts including high throughput experimentation Design of Experiments kinetic thermodynamic and mechanistic investigation and catalysis

• Experience working with manufacturers to scale up lab-based results.

Work Environment and Location

100% onsite at the VA BioTech Park

Since M4ALLs inception in 2017 we have received significant financial support from a diverse portfolio of major donors. This position is grant-funded with continued employment contingent upon ongoing funding.

Benefits of Working at VCU include:

The university and the region

VCU is a public research university unlike any other dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients. Inclusion is our heartbeat and it drives us to tackle difficult challenges others cant or wont. Were home to creativity teaching discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond Virginia means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities for our students.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and life experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together were forging a future that is built by us. Here artists and engineers doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

VCU dates to 1838 with the formation of the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College whose mission was to educate physicians in central Virginia and which was later renamed Medical College of Virginia. In 1968 Richmond Professional Institute merged with the Medical College of Virginia to become what is now known as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Located in downtown Richmond the state capital of Virginia VCU enrolls more than 28000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax Virginia and Abingdon Virginia; and a campus in Doha Qatar for the School of the Arts.

Ignited by the energy of the city were ready to lead industries or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected the experimental the never-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federal and other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as Community Engaged with Very High Research Activity.

This research enterprise and the influence of having one of the nations top-ranked public graduate arts schools ensures students receive unique educational experiences that equip them with a creative mindset that sets them apart.

VCUs contributions in talent innovation and entrepreneurialism regional stewardship and local culture shape the economic impact and overall quality of life in the region. VCU as a whole generates more than $9 billion in economic activity. It is the largest employer in Richmond with more than 26000 employees at VCU and VCU Health and it supports approximately 58000 jobs in Virginia. In addition Virginia classifies VCU with a Tier III status the highest possible status for universities and colleges allowing VCU more flexibility in managing its operations to implement best practices and streamline processes. To learn about VCUs finances visit.

VCUs unwavering commitment to diversity inclusion equity and student success is why INSIGHT into Diversity magazine has named us a Diversity Champion six times in a row as part of its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Awards. And many students say that the best thing about VCU is its diversity.

VCUs mission under the leadership of President Michael Rao Ph.D. is to serve as one national urban public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of our students patients faculty staff and community through:

• Real-world learning that furthers civic engagement inquiry discovery and innovation.

• Research that expands the boundaries of new knowledge and creative expression and promotes translational applications to improve the quality of human life.

• Interdisciplinary collaborations and community partnerships that advance innovation enhance cultural and economic vitality and solve societys most complex challenges.

• Health sciences that preserve and restore health for all people seek the cause and cure of diseases through groundbreaking research and educate those who serve humanity.

• Deeply ingrained core values of diversity inclusion and equity that provide a safe trusting and supportive environment to explore create learn and serve.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

About Richmond Virginia

As the commonwealths capital Richmond Virginia offers a vibrant mix of history diverse culture and real-world opportunities. Distinct neighborhoods cozy restaurants and cafes and quaint local markets give the city an intimate feel but theaters galleries music festivals sports attractions and a steady stream of annual events bring RVA as locals call the region to life. Established in 1780 its rich history can be seen in the architecture the Capitol grounds and the cobblestone streets around the city. With the historic James River and 600 acres of parks bordering it bike trails wineries breweries a flourishing arts entertainment and restaurant scene (Food and Wine called Richmond a culinary powerhouse) and affordable suburbs this small city punches well above its weight in terms of attractions and buzz. In fact Travel Leisure named Richmond the best place to live in Virginia in 2023 and Southern Living named Richmond one of the 20 best cities to live in the South in 2024.

Richmonds location in the middle of the state allows for day or weekend trips to the beach the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginias many wineries. Its within a two-hour drive of Washington D.C. and a multitude of excellent institutions of higher education. The Richmond metropolitan area is also home to several Fortune 500 companies a broad base of financial companies hospitals and media firms high-tech manufacturing companies and state and local government agencies. Entrepreneurs and artists put down roots in Richmond and Thrillist named it one of the best U.S. cities for creatives in 2022.