Monday, February 22, 2016

Ask CJ: synthetic chemistry jobs in Toronto?

A reader with experience as a M.S. pharma chemist asks about suggestions for synthetic chemistry positions in Toronto? I haven't heard of too many places (isn't/wasn't Montreal the city for organic chemistry in Ontario* eastern Canada?)

Either way, readers, I'd love to hear your opinions.

*UPDATE: CJ is an idiot about Canadian geography.

13 comments:

  1. Toronto Research Chemicals always seems to be hiring. Clearsynth and Vibrant Pharma are also looking for synthetic chemists. There does seem to be more work in Montreal, however.

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    1. Maybe not so much Vibrant Pharma, there aren't any specific positions posted.

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  2. Alphora (Process chem CRO) is based in the GTA, as is Apotex (Generics) - I believe their process chem is located in brantford or brampton or burlington (i embarrassingly confuse the three pretty easily).

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    1. Brampton, I think.

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    2. Apotex process chem is in Brantford. Brampton itself has limited options for pharma. But it is right next to Mississauga, which has a number.

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  3. TRC doesn't have a particularly exciting reputation, I've interviewed folks coming from there and they always seem miserable.

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  4. http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=2284c1b5c62ca310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=401132d0b6d1e310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

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  5. Synthetic pharma chemistry positions are not plentiful in the Toronto area. As already mentioned, there is Apotex, as well as a few other generics or API makers (Patheon, Teva). There is Alphora as well as TRC. There are a few start-ups here and there. That's about it.

    Montreal used to be a hotbed of pharma research, and many of the major companies had research centres there. Over the last few years they've pretty much all been shut down. Some smaller companies have taken their place, though.

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  6. There's also Acanthus Research in Mississauga. We are a happy customer of theirs.

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  7. I did my PhD in organic chemistry in Canada. Aside from 1 guy I knew who used to work for MRK (and is now at a startup in San Diego) I don't know anyone from when I was in GS who worked in Canada in industry. I do know a couple of guys with academic positions there. Pity, really, both that Canadians can't find work in their chosen field in Canada and that Canadian taxpayers are paying to train (what inevitably becomes) American workers.

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  8. "...Canadian taxpayers are paying to train (what inevitably becomes) American workers." That will compete with American workers (trained by american taxpayerS) for fewer and fewer jobs.

    Trump/Palin in 2016! Build a wall on both sides! 54-40 or fight!

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  9. There's also Dalton pharma services. But yeah, slim pickings. My peers in grad school in Southern Ontario either went to Apotex / TRC / Dalton, or moved down to Boston (as I did).

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looks like Blogger doesn't work with anonymous comments from Chrome browsers at the moment - works in Microsoft Edge, or from Chrome with a Blogger account - sorry! CJ 3/21/20