At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and analyse fragment screening campaigns using X-ray crystallography.
- Company: Leading global pharmaceutical organisation focused on innovative drug discovery.
- Benefits: Work with cutting-edge tech, competitive salary, and impactful projects.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to influence breakthrough therapies.
- Why this job: Join a pioneering team driving the future of therapeutic discovery.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field and strong experience in protein crystallography.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about using structural biology to drive the discovery of next-generation therapeutics? We are supporting a leading global pharmaceutical organisation as they expand a newly established Discovery Technology & Platforms function focused on accelerating small molecule drug discovery through cutting-edge science, advanced technologies, and innovative platform development. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Protein Crystallographer to play a key role in building and advancing an internal Fragment-Based Ligand Design (FBLD) platform that will directly influence future therapeutic discovery programmes.
Key Responsibilities:- Design, execute, and analyse fragment screening campaigns using X-ray crystallography
- Solve and refine large volumes of protein-fragment crystal structures in parallel
- Utilise low-occupancy crystallography tools and modern refinement packages to identify and progress fragment hits
- Coordinate X-ray data collection activities across internal facilities, synchrotrons, CROs, and external partners
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary discovery scientists to support hit finding, cryptic pocket identification, mechanism of action studies, and molecular design
- Contribute to iterative fragment optimisation through growth, linking, merging, and structure-guided design cycles
- Develop and optimise workflows, automation strategies, and scalable structural biology platforms
- PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, or a related discipline
- Strong hands-on experience in protein crystallography and fragment-based drug discovery
- Proven expertise processing and solving large crystallographic datasets in parallel
- Experience with software such as PHENIX, BUSTER, PanDDA, Maestro/Schrödinger, ICM-Pro, GINGER, Fragmentstein, FrankenROCS, Cluster4x, or similar ideal
- Experience using scripting and automation tools, ideally within HPC environments
- Track record of translating crystallographic data into actionable medicinal chemistry insights
- Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary discovery teams
- Join a newly created innovation-focused group driving the future of molecule discovery
- Work with cutting-edge technologies and world-class scientific teams
- Influence the development of transformative discovery platforms from the ground up
- Contribute directly to programmes focused on delivering breakthrough therapies for patients with unmet medical needs
If you have experience in protein crystallography, fragment screening, structural biology, or structure-based drug design and would like to learn more, please get in touch for a confidential discussion.
Protein Crystallographer in Reading employer: Planet Pharma
Join a leading global pharmaceutical organisation that prioritises innovation and collaboration in the heart of Reading. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and contribute to transformative drug discovery initiatives. The company fosters a dynamic work culture that values scientific excellence and teamwork, making it an ideal environment for professionals passionate about advancing healthcare solutions.
