At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Formulation team to develop innovative pharmaceutical products and lead formulation design activities.
- Company: Curia, a global leader in contract research and manufacturing for pharmaceuticals.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive benefits including private healthcare, gym membership, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Fast-paced setting with excellent training and career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on patients' lives while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in a science field and 3 years of relevant industry experience required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About Curia
Curia provides global contract research and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
We have a fantastic opportunity to come and join our Formulation team here in Glasgow.
If you are looking to develop your experience in pharmaceutical drug manufacturing within a formulation team, this is the perfect opportunity to join Curia as we enter our next stage of Growth and work towards the gold standard in pharmaceuticals.
We provide excellent training in a fast-paced environment, offering variety and progression.
We pursue excellence because our work has the power to improve patients' lives with the pharmaceuticals we develop and manufacture.
The Role
We are seeking a high-calibre Formulation Scientist with 3 years industry experience in formulation development role gained within a pharmaceutical, biotech or CDMO environment.
The succesful candidate will lead and support formulation design, pre-formulation, and process development activities for sterile injectable dosage forms across a diverse range of compound categories, including small molecules, large molecules (biologics), highly potent compounds and controlled substances.
Working within a dynamic and fast paces CDMO setting, you will act as a technical subject matter expert across multiple client projects, converting bench-scale science into robust, GMP-ready manufacturing processes in advancing products from development through to clinical and commercial manufacture.
This role requires strong technical expertise and a collaborative mindset an example of the responsibilities as follows:
Key Responsibilities
- Technical & Project
Execution: Deliver formulation design activities for small molecules, peptides and biologics.
Operate formulation and characterisation equipment, analyse complex laboratory data, and provide clear scientific explanations.
- Technology
Transfer: Translate bench-scale variables (e. g., mixing protocols, filtration parameters, etc.) into workable clinical manufacturing processes.
Liaise with production to ensure a seamless handoff to GMP manufacture.
- Documentation & Client
Relations: Write clear work plans, project reports, and technical transfer documents.
Attend and actively contribute to customer calls, act as a technical guide during timeline or data shifts, and support client audits.
- Quality & Safety Compliance: Strictly maintain GLP/GMP quality standards, follow department & site SOPs and maintain meticulous technical notebooks.
- Role Requirements
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- Education: Degree-level qualification (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, or a related science field.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years of industry laboratory experience focused on pharmaceutical drug product formulation, pre-formulation, and/or process development.
Other levels of relevant experience will be considered.
- Core Lab Skills: Hands-on experience utilising wet chemistry techniques, relevant formulation processes and characterisation methods.
- Autonomy & Drive: Proven ability to take ownership of tasks, design experiments, manage equipment care, and navigate multiple project timelines under pressure.
- Communication: Exceptional oral and written communication skills with strong problem-solving abilities.
Desirable Attributes
- Sterile Technical Expertise: Knowledge of aseptic processing regulations and parenterally acceptable excipient functionality.
- Advanced
Processing: Practical knowledge of lyophilisation cycle optimisation/development, complex formulation processes (i. e. emulsion, liposomal, suspensions, etc.) and tangential flow filtration (TFF).
- Pre-formulation Depth: Experience measuring physical properties (e. g., XRPD, DVS, p H-solubility profiles).
- CDMO Agility: Ability to switch fluidly between diverse client molecules (small molecules, biologics, peptides, highly potent compounds) while maintaining strict scope and timeline discipline.
Benefits
- Up to 9% employer contribution to pension
- Dental
- Private healthcare
- 4 x salary life scheme
- gym membership contribution
- cycle to work
- 34 days holiday
- sick pay
- Holiday Purchase/sell scheme - 1 day's extra holiday for every year you work here for up to 5 years
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Formulation Scientist in Glasgow
✨Unlock Networking Opportunities
Dive into industry-specific events like pharmaceutical conferences and seminars, where you can meet hiring managers from companies like Curia. These are goldmines for making connections and learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream job boards.
✨Join Relevant Professional Bodies
Get involved with organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or your local pharmaceutical professionals' network. Being an active member can boost your credibility and may even lead to job referrals in top organisations like Curia.
✨Leverage Internships for Full-time Roles
If you can, consider pursuing internships in the pharmaceutical industry, especially with companies like Curia. These opportunities often pave the way for full-time positions and allow you to demonstrate your capabilities firsthand.
✨Tailor Your Approach
When you're applying for roles, don't rush it! Take the time to customise your applications for specific positions, showcasing relevant skills and experiences that align with what Curia is looking for. A tailored application can really make you stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Formulation Scientist in Glasgow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at Curia!
Emphasise Your Understanding of Regulations:The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so it's important to indicate your familiarity with industry standards and regulations. In your cover letter, mention any training or certifications you've received that are relevant, or discuss projects where you’ve navigated compliance. This will show Curia that you're not just a fit for the job but also a safety-conscious candidate!
Tailor Your CV to Be Result-Driven:Craft your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements, especially if you have previous roles in pharmaceuticals or related fields. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as improved processing times or successful project completions while working on trials. This analytical approach will resonate well with hiring managers at Curia!
Convey Your Passion for the Industry:In your cover letter, express why you are passionate about working in the pharmaceutical sector. Whether it’s your desire to contribute to groundbreaking drug research or improve patient outcomes, let it shine through! At Curia, we value candidates who are truly enthusiastic about their work—you might just stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at Curia
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at Curia that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
✨Know Their Products
Take some time to familiarise yourself with Curia’s product range and recent breakthroughs. Understanding their portfolio not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also allows you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in actively contributing to their projects.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Scenarios
In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
