Senior Research Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry
IDEAYA Biosciences
September 01, 2026
On-site
South San Francisco, CA
Clinical Research and Development
Position Summary
- Discovery medicinal chemist to support oncology drug discovery programs by being highly productive in the lab and rationally proposing target molecules that overcome liabilities to deliver clinical candidates.
- Work with dynamic, cross-functional teams to achieve drug discovery pipeline goals.
What you’ll do:
- Apply modern synthetic techniques to prepare complex chemical targets and deliver high-quality molecules at a productive rate.
- Design reaction sequences to avoid known liabilities and reduce difficult purifications.
- Gather reaction information quickly and troubleshoot problematic transformations.
- Plan ahead and multitask in and out of the lab.
- Deliver molecules on scales from 10 mg to >25 g.
- Support and manage external synthetic chemistry resources for high productivity.
- Use SAR data and medicinal chemistry knowledge to propose targets addressing critical issues.
- Use structure-based design skills to improve affinity and selectivity.
- Present results clearly and concisely in various forums.
Requirements:
- Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry; 0–3 years pharmaceutical industry medicinal chemistry experience.
- Strong synthetic organic chemistry expertise (asymmetric reactions, modern cross-coupling); knowledge of chemistry literature; proficiency in purification and spectroscopic characterization.
- Ability to keep good scientific records.
- Proven high lab productivity synthesizing complex structures with strong safety standards.
- Ability to develop new practical, scalable chemistry.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting skills; practical, creative solutions.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to multitask, set priorities in a fast-paced environment, and work well in multidisciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of medicinal chemistry concepts: structure-based design, SAR-driven design, multi-parameter optimization, physicochemical properties, and ADME/pharmacology principles.
- Desire to continually learn and stay current in drug discovery and structure-based design.
Total Rewards (benefits explicitly stated):
- Medical/dental/vision; 401k; ESPP; wellness programs.
Salary (explicit range): $148,000–$183,000.
- Discovery medicinal chemist to support oncology drug discovery programs by being highly productive in the lab and rationally proposing target molecules that overcome liabilities to deliver clinical candidates.
- Work with dynamic, cross-functional teams to achieve drug discovery pipeline goals.
What you’ll do:
- Apply modern synthetic techniques to prepare complex chemical targets and deliver high-quality molecules at a productive rate.
- Design reaction sequences to avoid known liabilities and reduce difficult purifications.
- Gather reaction information quickly and troubleshoot problematic transformations.
- Plan ahead and multitask in and out of the lab.
- Deliver molecules on scales from 10 mg to >25 g.
- Support and manage external synthetic chemistry resources for high productivity.
- Use SAR data and medicinal chemistry knowledge to propose targets addressing critical issues.
- Use structure-based design skills to improve affinity and selectivity.
- Present results clearly and concisely in various forums.
Requirements:
- Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry; 0–3 years pharmaceutical industry medicinal chemistry experience.
- Strong synthetic organic chemistry expertise (asymmetric reactions, modern cross-coupling); knowledge of chemistry literature; proficiency in purification and spectroscopic characterization.
- Ability to keep good scientific records.
- Proven high lab productivity synthesizing complex structures with strong safety standards.
- Ability to develop new practical, scalable chemistry.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting skills; practical, creative solutions.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to multitask, set priorities in a fast-paced environment, and work well in multidisciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of medicinal chemistry concepts: structure-based design, SAR-driven design, multi-parameter optimization, physicochemical properties, and ADME/pharmacology principles.
- Desire to continually learn and stay current in drug discovery and structure-based design.
Total Rewards (benefits explicitly stated):
- Medical/dental/vision; 401k; ESPP; wellness programs.
Salary (explicit range): $148,000–$183,000.