Preformulation Scientist
Scientist, Early Pharmaceutical Development
A growing biotechnology organization developing innovative therapies for serious diseases is seeking a Scientist, Early Pharmaceutical Development to support small-molecule discovery and early development programs.
In this role, you will partner with multidisciplinary teams across chemistry, biology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmaceutical sciences to evaluate new drug candidates and develop formulations that support preclinical studies. The successful candidate will contribute to candidate selection activities and help advance compounds from research through early-stage development.
Key Responsibilities
- Represent pharmaceutical sciences on discovery and early development project teams, providing technical expertise and strategic recommendations.
- Design and evaluate formulations to support pharmacokinetic, pharmacology, and toxicology studies.
- Conduct preformulation assessments for small-molecule drug candidates, including characterization of solubility, dissolution, particle properties, physical stability, and solid-state attributes.
- Perform solid-form investigations, including salt selection, polymorph evaluation, and co-crystal screening to support development decisions.
- Apply formulation approaches for poorly soluble compounds, including amorphous solid dispersions, lipid-based systems, suspensions, and other solubility-enhancement technologies.
- Develop and utilize analytical methods (HPLC/UPLC) to characterize formulations, assess stability, and support dose preparation activities.
- Collaborate with external research partners and contract laboratories to deliver project objectives and timelines.
- Generate technical documentation, summarize experimental findings, and contribute to development reports and regulatory-supporting documentation.
- Work closely with downstream CMC and formulation development groups to enable smooth transition of candidates into clinical development.
Qualifications
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience in preformulation, pharmaceutical development, formulation development, or biopharmaceutics for small-molecule drug candidates.
- Knowledge of solid-state chemistry, polymorphism, salt selection, dissolution, and solubility enhancement strategies.
- Hands-on experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC and UPLC.
- Familiarity with early-stage development activities supporting candidate selection and preclinical studies.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Preferred Background
- Experience supporting compounds with challenging solubility or bioavailability profiles.
- Knowledge of amorphous solid dispersions, lipid-based formulations, nanosuspensions, or related enabling technologies.
- Experience interacting with CROs and contributing to regulatory or technical development documentation.
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