Antibody Conjugation

Are you ready to use your scientific expertise to help transform bold ideas into life-changing medicines? If so, Kaigene could be the right place for you.

At Kaigene, patients come first. We are driven to address unmet medical needs around the world by thinking big, moving quickly, and working together to turn the impossible into reality. If you take initiative, lead with confidence, collaborate naturally, and stay curious about what science can do, you’ll fit right in.

About Kaigene in Rockville, MD

Founded in 2022, Kaigene is a startup dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative medicines using antibody-based technologies. Our mission is to create best-in-class biotherapeutics for patients living with autoimmune disease. Our management team brings deep industry experience and a strong track record in biologics discovery and development.

We consider our employees our most valuable asset and are committed to providing meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and advance professionally. Kaigene fosters an environment of innovation, open communication, knowledge building, and teamwork—where employees can see the direct impact of their work on the success of the organization.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientist to join our antibody conjugation team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, synthesis, and characterization of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), degrader-antibody conjugates (DAC), and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOC), supporting discovery through early development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute conjugation strategies for ADC, DAC, and AOC platforms.

• Develop and optimize site-specific and stochastic conjugation methods (e.g., cysteine, lysine, enzymatic, glycan-based conjugation).

• Evaluate and select linkers (cleavable / non-cleavable) and payload modalities (small molecule drugs, degraders, oligonucleotides).

• Control and characterize drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) and conjugation heterogeneity.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams for preclinical development.

• Communicate results in written and verbal form, including presentations at internal and external meetings and preparation of scientific reports.

Requirements

• Degree in chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or related discipline.

• PhD with 0+ years, or MS with 3+ years of relevant experience in antibody conjugation, ADC development, or related fields.

• Hands-on experience in one or more of the following: Antibody conjugation chemistry,  Linker-payload design and evaluation, Oligonucleotide conjugation (AOC) or protein conjugation technologies

• Understanding of conjugate stability, aggregation, and formulation considerations.

• Language: Fluent in Korean, and professional working proficiency in English.

Statement 

Kaigene is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. 

Job type: Full-time 

We may consider supporting visa/green card application for qualified candidates.

- Contact: kh.min@kaigene.com (301-201-0010)

- Application requirement: Resume