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- Tasks: Lead early drug discovery projects and manage virtual screening efforts.
- Company: Join a VC-backed biotech innovating medicines for unmet medical needs.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and a generous benefits package.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on drug development in a high-performing, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: MSc/PhD in computational chemistry or related field with drug discovery experience required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with experienced leaders and contribute to groundbreaking therapeutics.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
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Principal Computational Chemist – Drug Discovery, Greater London
Client:
Location:
Greater London, United Kingdom
Job Category:
Other
EU Work Permit Required:
Yes
Job Reference:
809b5961d2e6
Job Views:
8
Posted:
03.03.2025
Expiry Date:
17.04.2025
Job Description:
Your New Company
You’ll be joining a VC backed biotech that has already raised tens of millions of pounds of funding and is using its novel platform technology to develop innovative medicines for areas of unmet need, allowing you to have a significant impact on patients. The company has a high-performing and innovative atmosphere, driven by the highly experienced leadership team which has an excellent track record of developing therapeutics. They are going into their next phase of growth and are looking to further build up their R&D teams within chemistry and biology with the addition of an experienced computational chemist to focus on leading early drug discovery projects. This is a full-time position, with hybrid working based out of their site in London.
Your New Role
This is a permanent position, sitting in the Discovery Chemistry team, and working closely with a variety of internal colleagues and external stakeholders and vendors. The role is hybrid, requiring some time on site, and is focused on leading the company’s computational chemistry efforts as they develop the next generation of small molecule therapeutics. Major responsibilities will include a mix of (but aren’t limited to):
- Acting as a technical lead on drug discovery projects
- Driving early discovery work from Hit ID through to Lead Optimisation and beyond
- Manage virtual screening projects, e.g., assessing structure or ligand binding to identify novel hits and assist with progressing programmes through the company’s portfolio
- Support experimental design with colleagues in other departments
- Develop and then implement computational chemistry strategies
- Assess, optimise and add new software into the company’s discovery platform
- Customising / developing new workflows, tools or pipelines
- Identify requirements from internal stakeholders and help to develop new approaches
- Presenting results to senior leadership and other stakeholders, e.g., within medicinal chemistry or biology teams
What You’ll Need to Succeed
As well as strong communication skills for dealing with internal collaborators and stakeholders, you should have:
- An MSc / PhD (or equivalent experience) in computational chemistry or a life sciences discipline such as chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or similar with a strong computational element
- A track record of drug discovery within a pharmaceutical, biotech or contract research/CRO company or similar, preferably as a project leader
- Deep hands-on expertise of applying both structure-based and ligand-based drug design approaches to discovery projects
- Experience with computational chemistry techniques such as conformational analysis, free energy calculations, homology modelling, etc.
- Good programming skills in a language such as Python, C++, R, Java or similar
- Knowledge of Cloud computing, with experience of containerisation / Docker an advantage
- The ability to work with external CROs or other research partners
- Project management experience, coupled with a deep seated interest in problem solving
- Experience of molecular dynamics (e.g., NAMD, Gromacs, AMBER) or applying Quantum Chemistry or QM/MM techniques are not necessary for this role, however it would be an advantage, as would knowledge of protein degradation / PROTACS / molecular glue projects.
What You’ll Get in Return
You’ll get the chance to make a significant impact on the company’s drug discovery and development projects, taking on project leadership for a number of different aspects with computational chemistry as they develop the next generation of medicines. The company is relatively open on salary bands depending on the skills of the person coming in and the benefits package associated with the role is quite generous. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Principal Computational Chemist - drug discovery, Greater London employer: TN United Kingdom
Contact Detail:
TN United Kingdom Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Computational Chemist - drug discovery, Greater London
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to highlight your experience in drug discovery during networking events or informal meetups. Engaging with professionals in the biotech field can help you learn about unadvertised opportunities and get insider information about the company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarize yourself with the latest computational chemistry techniques and tools that are relevant to drug discovery. Being able to discuss these topics confidently in conversations with industry peers can set you apart as a knowledgeable candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Consider reaching out to current or former employees of the company on professional networking platforms. They can provide valuable insights into the company's projects and expectations, which can help you tailor your approach when applying.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on recent advancements in drug discovery and computational chemistry by following relevant journals and attending webinars. This knowledge will not only enhance your expertise but also give you talking points during interviews.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Computational Chemist - drug discovery, Greater London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in computational chemistry and drug discovery. Emphasize any project leadership roles you've held and specific techniques you've used, such as structure-based or ligand-based drug design.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for drug discovery and how your background aligns with the company's mission. Mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your expertise in computational chemistry and your ability to lead early drug discovery efforts.
Highlight Technical Skills: Clearly outline your programming skills and familiarity with computational chemistry techniques. If you have experience with cloud computing or containerization, make sure to include that as well, as it is relevant to the role.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since the role involves collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders, provide examples of how you've effectively communicated complex scientific concepts in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to work well in a team-oriented environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at TN United Kingdom
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with computational chemistry techniques. Highlight specific projects where you applied structure-based and ligand-based drug design approaches, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead early drug discovery projects.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are essential for this role. Practice articulating complex scientific concepts clearly and concisely, especially how you would collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders. This will show that you can bridge the gap between different departments.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous projects. Discuss your project management experience and how you approached problem-solving, particularly in a drug discovery context. This will highlight your ability to navigate obstacles effectively.
✨Familiarize Yourself with the Company’s Technology
Research the company’s novel platform technology and be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to their mission. Understanding their approach to drug discovery will allow you to tailor your responses and show genuine interest in their work.
