Job Overview

Monarch is seeking a Computational Chemist to lead our molecular modeling efforts to predict how insects respond to olfactory stimuli. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer, your work will be critical in validating the efficacy of machine-learning-predicted compounds across multiple insect species. 

Key Responsibilities

•Develop and apply computational models to predict the molecular interactions between  compounds and olfactory receptors 

•Conduct quantum mechanical calculations, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations to refine predictions

•Analyze data from computational experiments to prioritize compounds for lab and field validation

Location

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Alameda, CA.

Why Join Monarch?

Building an alternative to insecticides is one of the most important technical challenges of our time. Monarch is developing a product that works—a spatial repellent that protects crops from insects, humans from toxins, and insects from needless harm. If that mission motivates you, consider applying. 

https://monarchcrops.com/

Qualifications

•PhD (or Master's degree + 7 years industrial experience) in biophysics, biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, or equivalent, with a computational emphasis

•Skilled in scientific programming (e.g. Python, Pipeline Pilot) and data analytics (e.g. Spotfire, Pandas, Jupyter)

•Proficiency in general molecular modeling techniques (docking, molecular simulation, homology modeling, quantum mechanics, ligand and structure-based design)

•Familiarity with cheminformatics tools (e.g., AutoDock, Open Babel, RDKit) and machine learning applications in computational chemistry

•Experience with odorant-binding protein/olfactory receptor modeling is a strong plus

•Strong work ethic 

About Monarch

Building an alternative to insecticides is one of the most important technical challenges of our time. Most fruits and vegetables are sprayed with insecticides, including organics. The top three sprayed on these crops are toxic to the human nervous system. An estimated 35 quadrillion animals are killed yearly because of their use. And farmers lose tens of billions of dollars a year because insecticides often fail at their basic job: preventing insects from destroying crops. Monarch is developing a product that works—a spatial repellent that protects crops from insects, humans from toxins, and insects from needless harm. It will work by preventing insects from landing on crops in the first place. We’re building a genomic, molecular, and behavioral dataset from the ground up. Then applying computational chemistry and machine learning tools to predict which of the billions of potential compounds in nature trigger a ‘fly away’ signal from the olfactory neurons in the antennae to the smell center in the animal’s brain. From that unexplored data space, we’ll create the most effective products to protect crops and our long-term health.

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