Sr. / Scientist, Formulation and Delivery Sciences

Sr. / Scientist, Formulation and Delivery Sciences
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VitaKey is an exciting startup developing and commercializing proprietary technology for controlled, targeted, extended, and sustained delivery of macronutrients, micronutrients, probiotics, biologics, small molecules, etc. to be included in everyday foods and beverages to improve human health. We are seeking innovative and motivated scientists and engineers to be part of the company's next phase of growth at our Durham NC HQ. Learn more about our company on our website at  Role SummaryThis is an on-site, lab-based role. Responsibilities will involve leading, designing, and executing lab-scale R&D of new formulation and drug delivery platform technologies. Responsibilities will also include leveraging expertise in chemistry and/or materials science to propose novel formulation strategies, using bench formulation equipment to generate and evaluate formulations, executing stability testing of formulation approaches, and traveling to partner manufacturing sites for technology transfer. Responsibilities, in some cases, will also include mammalian and/or bacterial cell culture, including performing common techniques such as viral transduction, differentiation, and viability assays. You will serve as an individual contributor and may mentor or direct other scientists. Projects will be highly interdisciplinary, at the intersection of engineering, biochemistry, materials science, food science and nutrition. Duties and ResponsibilitiesDesign new formulation and drug delivery approaches for VitaKey payloadsUse spray drying, hot melt extrusion, fluidized bed coating, wet granulation, dry granulation, various milling, lyophilization, etc. to formulate payloads at lab scalePerform physicochemical characterization of produced formulations (e.g., DSC, particle size, flowability, moisture, water activity)Evaluate formulations in assays including release and/or stability assaysEstablish robust methodology for producing formulations to enable technology transfer for scale upCompile characterization and process data into AI-compatible formats and regularly use AI to accelerate new formulation developmentMaintain mammalian and/or microbial cell stocks and perform downstream assays on these cellsDocument results in electronic lab notebook systemPrepare monthly reports of project progressInterface with biological, process development, analytical development, and clinical teams to support company-wide objectives; regularly present findings at company meetingsTravel to pilot/manufacturing sites to participate in technology transferMay mentor and direct other scientists QualificationsPhD with 0-4 years of industry experience in chemical engineering, organic chemistry, materials science, bioengineering, or related disciplinesTrack record (e.g., first author publications, xzbcwsv launched products) of developing innovative formulation and/or drug delivery strategiesHands-on experience with common cell culture techniques including viral transduction, flow cytometry, and/or viability assessmentExperience using scalable formulation processing techniques such as spray drying, emulsions, fluidized bed coating, granulation, freeze drying, and/or hot melt extrusionExperience leveraging AI tools in parallel to wet lab science to improve productivityKnowledge of neural networks, receptor biology, and/or microbiology are a plusExposure to Quality by DesignEntrepreneurial and self-motivated work style; comfort in ambiguityExcellent communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas clearly to scientists and non-scientists alikeStartup experience is highly valued, but not requiredCandidates must work full time on-site in Durham, NCAbility to adjust rapidly to changing scientific priorities and technologies