Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220 companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.

Come join one of our quickly growing portfolio companies, Enko!

Enko is hiring a Project Chemist to join their chemistry team. This team member will contribute to our medicinal chemistry efforts using 21st century approaches to discovering high quality hits and optimizing them into products.

At Enko we believe that to create the future the world wants, we need to change the way the world grows. Our goal is not just to create something better, but to play a part in something bigger. Enko discovers and develops novel products for farmers to protect their crops from pests and disease. Led by a team of proven scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry veterans, Enko’s innovative science, agile design, and discovery of new modes of action is producing next-generation crop protection solutions that will overcome the critical challenges facing industry.

The Project Chemist's main objective will be to provide scientific and project leadership in identifying hit chemistries amenable to rapid optimization and developing them into products. You will be a key contributor to the development and execution of chemistry strategy and will collaborate with leaders at all levels. You will have the opportunity to influence the continued development of a culture of innovation and empowerment as a member of the R&D organization.

Are you ready to build and implement good tools into the hands of growers globally? Join us in our mission to combat and address the challenges that are becoming more dire because of climate change.

What You'll Do

• Identify hit chemistries from DNA-encoded library (DEL) screens and machine learning (ML) outputs.
• Judiciously apply knowledge, expertise, and desktop tools, to design active ingredients in line with stage plan criteria.
• Collaboratively develop science plans that address project critical success factors, applying fit-for-purpose technical standards.
• Implement design strategies through a network of contract research organizations (CROs); ensure design targets are delivered efficiently, maintaining a high level of CRO productivity.
• Collaborate as a member of project teams to generate data (aligned with a science plan) enabling the establishment of structure-activity relationships (SAR), addressing all aspects of lead optimization (e.g., intrinsic potency, selectivity, and in vivo efficacy); demonstrate leverage of these data, aligned with the project science plan.
• Ensure CRO resources are allocated in alignment with project and company priorities.
• Provide scientific and project leadership across multiple priorities.
• Motivate and coach team members to deliver to project goals and deadlines.
• Communicate timely and effectively (e.g., informal discussions, written reports, presentations) to stakeholders (e.g., function-, project-, leadership teams, external collaborators).

This role may be a fit for you if:

• You have a M.S. or Ph.D. in synthetic, organic chemistry or medicinal chemistry.
• You have at least 5 years of postdoctoral and/or industrial experience in the life sciences arena; experience in crop protection considered a bonus.
• You have previous experience managing chemistry CROs.
• You provide examples of a track record of advancing chemical series from hit-to-lead-to-development candidates.
• You're an excellent problem solver.
• You're a leader and have a strong project management skillset.
• You're an excellent communicator, both written and verbal.
• You are excited about joining a fast-paced startup environment that is working towards becoming the future of food!

Why Work at Enko?

• Our products address a $70 billion core market focused on crop health with expansion into adjacent markets worth $300 billion.
• We have $150 million in capitalization, with $80 million raised as part of a Series C raise.
• Our global investors include Anterra Capital, Nufarm, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Eight Roads Ventures, Finistere Ventures, Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund, Novalis LifeSciences, Syngenta, TaherGozal, Germin8 Ventures, TO Ventures Food, Endeavor8, Connecticut Innovations, Silver Blue LLC, and Alumni Ventures Group.
• We have over 40 novel pipeline programs and 5 strategic partnerships announced, including with Syngenta and Bayer.
• Our headquarters and research facility in Mystic, CT has 90,000 square feet of state-of-the-art labs and computer-controlled greenhouses built for pre-field experimentation and scale.

Enko is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Stock options
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Mystic, CT 06355: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Mystic, CT 06355