Research Scientist, Life Sciences (Chemistry)

The role

Research scientists will drive experimental programs to pressure-test AI-designed molecules and synthetic routes. You will design and run experiments, from synthesis and purification to studying reaction mechanisms, to close the loop between AI hypotheses and experimental data.

What you will do

• Design multi-step synthetic routes for small molecules and oversee execution
• Design and run mechanistic, kinetic, and spectroscopic studies
• Prepare and characterize inorganic and organometallic compounds, materials, and formulations
• Coordinate synthesis and biological evaluation with external partners
• Evaluate AI-designed molecules, synthetic routes, and predicted mechanisms
• Generate experimental and computational data to train and evaluate AI models
• Apply medicinal chemistry principles to compound design and prioritization
• Ensure experimental data is high quality and well documented
• Communicate findings to chemistry, AI research, and life sciences audiences

Required qualifications

• PhD in chemistry
• Demonstrated depth in your area of experimental chemistry
• Recent, sustained hands-on laboratory work
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and defining problems in a rapidly evolving research environment
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice to have

• 5+ years of experience in your area of chemistry beyond the PhD
• For medicinal chemists, a track record of advancing programs from hit identification through lead optimization
• Experience directing chemistry activities at contract research organizations
• Computational chemistry, cheminformatics, or coding skills, for example quantum mechanical calculations (DFT) or Python with RDKit or pandas
• Experience using AI or ML tools in chemistry or the life sciences
• Publications and/or patents demonstrating scientific impact

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Optional equity donation matching
• Generous vacation and parental leave
• Flexible working hours
• Office space

Before you apply

• We do sponsor visas

About the company

Anthropic is a public benefit corporation headquartered in San Francisco. The company's mission is to create reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.