Senior Research Associate, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Your experience includes… 

• BS/MS in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field with 5+ years (BS) or 3+ years (MS) of relevant industry experience
• Excellent knowledge and thorough understanding of upstream and downstream processing of oligonucleotides
• Experience with enzymatic ligation and HPLC purification of oligonucleotides
• Experience using Agilent and Waters analytical instruments for purity analysis
• Detail and results oriented with experience using ELNs to document experiments and results
• It’s a bonus if you have experience working in a cGMP environment

You are interested in… 

• Developing and implementing strategies for enzymatic ligation and purification of complex oligonucleotides
• Optimizing chemical reactions and purification methods to ensure scalable and cost-effective manufacturing processes for oligonucleotides
• Supporting process scale-up and transition into a cGMP-compliant manufacturing environment
• Participate in cross-functional teams and training to gain familiarity in all stages of oligonucleotide research and manufacturing

About you: 

You are a skilled and self-motivated individual who can optimize and implement processes for synthesizing and purifying complex oligonucleotides. You can operate in a fast-paced environment, troubleshoot instruments, and document operations independently and as part of a team. You will have the opportunity to organize and present results within the group and interface with other teams, so strong communication skills are critical.  You enjoy overcoming challenges in collaboration with colleagues.

Tessera employees are creative and collaborative problem solvers. They have a strong sense of integrity and unwavering commitment to scientific excellence. 

Meet your Manager:

All inquiries regarding the posted position should be directed to the Talent Partner (see below). Interested individuals must apply directly to be considered for the opening. 

Jenifer Calvo – Scientist II, Oligo Foundry

Jenifer obtained her Ph.D. In Chemistry at the University of Texas at Dallas. She conducted her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University before starting her career at Tessera in 2022. In Tessera, she leads a team that develops novel strategies for synthesizing complex oligonucleotides.

Meet your Talent Partner:

Ben Hoogheem – Senior Director, Head of Talent Management

As Head of Talent Management at Tessera Therapeutics, Ben leads Tessera’s talent strategy across talent acquisition, performance management, and talent mobility.

Ben began his career as an in vivo Pharmacologist, which gave him a lasting appreciation for the rigor, creativity, and collaboration that drive scientific discovery. That foundation continues to shape how he helps build organizations designed to enable science thrive.

Ben is focused on aligning exceptional people with bold science – creating the structure, clarity, and culture that empower teams to scale effectively and achieve meaningful impact.

Compensation: 

The stated base salary range represents Tessera’s good-faith estimate for this role. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors, including but not limited to individual qualifications, years of relevant experience, internal compensation alignment, and external market data.

Tessera offers a competitive package of base and incentive compensation as well as a comprehensive benefits program designed to support the health, wellness, and financial security of our employees and their families. Benefits currently include group medical, vision, and dental coverage; group life and disability insurance; a 401(k) plan with company contribution; tuition reimbursement; and more.

This position is also eligible for an annual incentive bonus and equity grants as part of Tessera’s total rewards program.

Per Year Salary Range: $90,000 - $108,000 USD

Company Summary:

Tessera Therapeutics is pioneering Gene Writing™— a new biotechnology designed to offer scientists and clinicians the ability to write small and large therapeutic messages into the genome, thereby curing diseases at their source. Gene Writing holds the potential to become a new category in genetic medicine, building upon recent breakthroughs in gene therapy and gene editing while eliminating important limitations in their reach, utilization, and efficacy.

More about Tessera Therapeutics:

Tessera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, marital status, genetics, protected veteran status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic identified by federal, state, or local laws where we operate. Tessera provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. To begin an interactive dialogue with Tessera regarding a reasonable accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied, please contact the recruiter or Accommodations@tesseratx.com

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies:  Tessera Therapeutics does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Tessera Therapeutics or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Tessera Therapeutics’ internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Tessera Therapeutics, and Tessera Therapeutics will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.