RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT WITH INDUSTRIAL PHD PATHWAY

Über den Job

About us

Philogen is a Swiss-Italian integrated biotechnology company founded in 1996 and dedicated to developing innovative biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Philochem AG is the discovery R&D center of the Philogen Group and is located in Otelfingen, near Zurich, Switzerland. Philochem integrates chemistry, biology, cell line development, and mass spectrometry to advance new therapeutic and diagnostic candidates from discovery toward clinical development.

Promising preclinical candidates developed at Philochem are subsequently manufactured at Philogen’s authorized Good Manufacturing Practice facilities in Siena, Italy. The Company currently sponsors and coordinates prospective Phase I, II, and III clinical trials in Europe and the United States.

Your Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, scientifically ambitious, and collaborative early-career scientist to join our Chemistry group. The position is suited for a chemist, biochemist, chemical biologist, medicinal chemist, or candidate with a related interdisciplinary background who is eager to work at the interface of chemistry, biology, and translational research.

The research program will focus on the design and synthesis of targeted therapeutics, including peptide- and small-molecule conjugates for selective payload delivery, as well as recombinant proteins and other biomolecule-based therapeutics engineered to improve tissue targeting, retention, or therapeutic activity. These approaches will be explored for applications in oncology and other disease areas with significant unmet clinical need.

For a candidate who demonstrates strong scientific progress and is a good fit for the team, the internship may provide a pathway to an industrial PhD project in collaboration with a leading European university.

Your Task

• Design, synthesize, and optimize peptide- and small-molecule-based conjugates for the targeted delivery of therapeutic payloads.
• Evaluate lead candidates using biophysical and cell-based assays and critically interpret the resulting data.
• Contribute to the development of engineered protein- and biomolecule-based therapeutic approaches.
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary team across chemistry, biology and mass spectrometry.
• Communicate results through internal presentations and contribute to scientific publications and intellectual property.

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, pharmacology, or a related field.
• Strong interest in targeted therapeutics, peptide chemistry, recombinant protein production and engineering, and translational biomedical research.
• Practical experience in peptide synthesis and/or synthetic organic chemistry is essential.
• Knowledge of molecular cloning and recombinant protein production in mammalian or prokaryotic expression systems is an advantage.
• Ability to plan experiments, troubleshoot independently, and interpret results critically and rigorously.
• Proactive, reliable, well-organized, and collaborative, with proficiency in written and spoken English.

How to Apply

Please submit your complete application with the following documents:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• At least one letter of recommendation
• University transcripts

to Dr. Samuele Cazzamalli (E-Mail schreiben) and Dr. Marco Bertolini (E-Mail schreiben).