Advisor/Senior Advisor - Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Role Summary

Advisor/Senior Advisor – Oligonucleotide Chemistry is a leadership role within Lilly Genetic Medicines. The position leads the discovery oligosynthesis scale-up team to accelerate RNAi therapeutics from pre-clinical to clinical development, oversees synthetic methods development, and collaborates with RNAi discovery chemistry teams to deliver essential oligonucleotide materials for key studies. The role requires deep expertise in large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis, team mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration across CMC and Development teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Lilly Genetic Medicines discovery oligosynthesis scale-up team to accelerate Lilly RNAi Therapeutics from pre-clinical to clinical development
• Utilize comprehensive expertise in oligonucleotide synthesis methodologies to support Lilly Genetic Medicines and further develop internal capabilities and team growth through effective coaching, mentorship, and leadership
• Collaborate with members of the RNAi discovery chemistry teams to validate and execute requirements for oligonucleotide synthesis from 150umol to 6mmol scales including communication of relevant information and results to project leads and/or cross functional organizations within Lilly to ensure seamless operation of the scale-up team
• Actively support our efforts toward the discovery of lead drug candidates and lead at the interface with our CMC and Development teams to provide essential materials for key studies and effectively communicate technical insights to the development team
• Demonstrate expertise in modern synthetic organic and nucleic acid chemistry, striving to improve methods, develop new technologies, and address synthetic oligonucleotide challenges across a diverse portfolio
• Oversee and prioritize the work of scale-up team members to meet critical timelines
• Value diverse perspectives and experiences for effective solutions. Motivate team members to take initiative, own outcomes, and share expertise on complex technical challenges
• Guide teams through unclear situations, adapt efficiently to changes, and evaluate and implement effective approaches to completing tasks

Qualifications

• Required: PhD degree in a relevant scientific discipline with 2+ years of oligonucleotide synthesis experience (solid phase synthesis) or MS degree with 5+ years of oligonucleotide synthesis experience (solid phase synthesis)
• Preferred: Experience supervising a team of scientists to evaluate, refine and execute synthetic routes, technologies, and practices to deliver LGM portfolio
• Preferred: Experience troubleshooting and optimizing synthetic protocols on automated solid-phase synthesis instruments
• Preferred: Experience with downstream processing of oligonucleotides including chromatographic purification and process TFF systems
• Preferred: Ability to function within a highly interdisciplinary environment
• Preferred: Excellent written and oral communication, organizational skills, multitasking, and leadership under tight deadlines
• Preferred: Strong laboratory skills and experience with analytical instrumentation (AKTA, Agilent LC-MS/UPLC, Vanquish LTQ, Waters QDA, etc.)
• Preferred: Experience developing new chromatographic methods (IEX/RP-HPLC, SPE, LC-MS)
• Preferred: Experience in conjugation of novel ligands (small molecules, peptides, proteins) to oligonucleotides at 5–25 g scale

Skills

• Analytical instrumentation: AKTA, Agilent LC-MS/UPLC, Vanquish LTQ, Waters QDA, etc.
• Chromatographic method development (IEX/RP-HPLC, SPE, LC-MS)
• Oligonucleotide synthesis and solid-phase synthesis expertise
• Leadership, coaching, and mentorship of scientific teams
• Cross-functional collaboration and effective communication with project leads and development teams
• Interdisciplinary problem-solving in a fast-paced environment