Scientific Researcher

TALENT Software Services • Contract • South San Francisco, CA, US • $40 - $48 / hour • 2m ago

Are you an experienced Scientific Researcher with a desire to excel? If so, then Talent Software Services may have the job for you! Our client is seeking an experienced Scientific Researcher to work at their company in South San Francisco, CA.

Position Summary: Seeking an outstanding Scientific Researcher (Contract) to support formulation screening efforts within the Synthetic Molecule Pharmaceutical Sciences group. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and optimization of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and other parenteral formulations through high-throughput screening strategies and advanced analytical characterization. This role requires hands- on laboratory expertise, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams to support pharmaceutical formulation development.

Primary Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

Design and execute high-throughput formulation screening experiments for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and other parenteral drug delivery systems, using both bench instruments and automation tools.
Physicochemical characterization of LNPs, including particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, zeta potential, stability testing, etc.
Solubility and stability screenings, solid state/polymorph characterizations to support formulation research and development.
Design, plan, and troubleshoot laboratory experiments while maintaining strong attention to data quality and reproducibility.
Analyze and interpret experimental data, generating clear reports, presentations, and summaries for project teams.
Document experimental procedures and results in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) and internal data management systems.
Collaborate with analytical scientists, formulation scientists, and cross-functional project teams to support development programs.
Identify technical challenges and propose potential solutions to improve formulation performance and experimental workflows.
Maintain compliance with laboratory safety standards, internal quality requirements, and regulatory guidelines.

Qualifications:

BS or MS degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
1 - 5 years of industrial experience in pharmaceutical formulation research and development.
Strong theoretical knowledge of pharmaceutics; analytical, physical, and/or organic chemistry.
Hands-on experience with LNP formulation and analytics, including microfluidics, dialysis and ultrafiltration, particle sizing, and encapsulation efficiency analysis.
Self-motivated with strong problem-solving capabilities to design and execute experiments independently.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.

Preferred:

Hands-on experience with analytical tools, including UV/Vis/fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC-UV/CAD/MS, capillary electrophoresis, or related technologies.
Experience in analysing peptides and nucleic acids.
Experience with lab automation and hands-on experience with robotic liquid and solid handlers.
Experience performing high-content data analysis, AI/ML, and interpreting complex experimental results.
Pharmaceutical formulation development
LNP and parenteral formulations
High-throughput experimentation
Analytical chemistry techniques
Data analysis and interpretation
Laboratory automation technologies
Scientific problem solving
Cross-functional collaboration