Principal Scientist, Biochemist/Biophysicist

Kodiak Sciences Inc. is a fast-growing, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming ophthalmology through innovative therapeutics. Our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug (ABCD) platform combines protein engineering, polymer chemistry, small molecule drug discovery, bioconjugation, and drug delivery to address high-prevalence ophthalmic diseases. We are seeking a motivated and independent Biochemist/Biophysicist to join our Discovery Medicine group as part of the Protein Engineering team. The team is responsible for designing, engineering, and characterizing antibodies and novel drug formats for retinal disease treatment. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving research efforts for our drug pipeline extension. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge therapeutics development in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment. Responsibilities

• Design, build and characterize peptide- and protein-based therapeutic candidates.
• Conduct peptide discovery and optimization campaigns, including implementation of display platforms.
• Develop and apply biophysical and biochemical assays to evaluate binding, stability, aggregation, and structure of therapeutic molecules.
• Design and interpret experiments involving site-specific bioconjugation and chemical modifications, supporting the generation of novel formats, including multivalent constructs and targeted delivery vehicles.
• Contribute scientific insight to guide pipeline advancement and project direction, in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology or related disciplines.
• 5+ years or relevant experience in an industry setting

Required Skills

• Strong expertise in protein biochemistry, including recombinant protein expression, purification, characterization, and structure-function analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of linear and constrained peptides, including incorporation of unnatural amino acids, peptide discovery platforms (e.g. mRNA display), along with HPLC, LC-MS, NMR and CD for structural and functional characterization.
• Demonstrated experience with click chemistry and other-site specific bioconjugation methods, particularly in the context of protein, peptides, oligonucleotides, or targeted delivery applications.
• Hands-on experience with biophysical/biochemical characterization techniques, including SPR, DLS, DSF, SEC-MALS, mass photometry, fluorescence and luminescence-based assays.
• Experience with antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technologies is a plus, including familiarity with linker-payload strategies, conjugation methods, and biophysical and functional evaluation of ADCs.
• Proven track record of scientific innovation and effective cross-functional collaboration, with the ability to drive projects forward in a dynamic biotech environment and communicate complex data clearly.