Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative drug discovery research and mentor aspiring scientists.
- Company: University of Bath, a hub for cutting-edge scientific collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, professional development, and family-friendly policies.
- Why this job: Shape the future of therapeutic innovation and make a real-world impact.
- Qualifications: Proven research experience in drug discovery and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a vibrant community with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 75182 - 138905 £ per year.
The Departments of Life Sciences and Chemistry are seeking an exceptional research leader to join us as Chair in Drug Discovery, a strategic joint appointment across the two departments that will help shape the future of therapeutic innovation at Bath and play a central role in the new Centre for Drug Discovery (CDD). CDD is a major cross-faculty initiative bringing together chemists, biologists, data scientists and engineers to accelerate drug discovery through innovation in synthesis, screening, computation and translation. The Centre will focus on emerging modalities and enabling technologies from cyclic small molecules, peptides, antibodies and macrocycles, exploring new 3D chemical space to AI-guided synthesis, flow automation and direct-to-biology screening. By integrating Bath's strengths in synthetic chemistry, chemical and structural biology and advanced delivery science, the CDD will offer a distinctive environment for developing next-generation molecular tools and therapeutic leads.
About you:
- Demonstrate inclusive leadership and a commitment to fostering a diverse research environment
- Have a strong track record of internationally recognised research in drug discovery
- Are passionate about collaboration across disciplines and sectors
- Can mentor and support researchers at all career stages, including Bath Prize Fellows
- Engage with industry and innovation networks to translate discoveries into real-world impact
- Can teach aspects of drug discovery in both lectures and laboratory classes and contribute to our PGT course on Drug Discovery (joint between the departments of Chemistry and Life Sciences), maintaining the University’s high standards in teaching and learning, and its inclusive and supportive learning environment
While we encourage applications from a range of backgrounds, we particularly welcome candidates whose research aligns with one or more of the following areas:
- Medicinal chemistry for emerging modalities such as peptides, molecular glues, PROTACs, ADCs or covalent inhibitors
- Innovative screening approaches, e.g. DNA-encoded libraries, affinity-selection mass spectrometry, chemoproteomics or AI/ML-driven virtual screening
- Computational drug discovery, including molecular design, macrocycle conformations, docking, or predictive models for permeability and pharmacokinetics
About Drug Discovery at Bath:
Drug discovery at Bath is driven by close integration between the Departments of Life Sciences and Chemistry, uniting expertise in peptide design, synthetic chemistry, chemoproteomics and computational modelling. Core strengths include chemical and structural biology, pharmacology and antibiotic discovery, with projects spanning early-stage molecular design through to pre-clinical mechanism-of-action studies. Life Sciences provides cutting-edge laboratories for molecular and cellular biology, microbiology and pharmaceutical sciences, including tissue-culture suites, automated liquid handling and a zebrafish facility for in vivo pharmacology. Chemistry complements this with world-class infrastructure for automated and flow synthesis, compound characterisation (MS, NMR, DReaM Facility) and access to Bath's High-Performance Computing and AI/ML platforms for virtual screening and molecular design. Both departments have a strong track record in innovation with a number of spin-out companies. The new appointment will join a vibrant cross-faculty community engaging with industry, the regional GW4 innovation network and an opportunity to benefit from the South-West Life Science network. Together, these resources offer an exceptional environment for innovative researchers to develop and test new approaches to molecular discovery.
Informal enquiries & application:
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Amanda Mackenzie, Head of Life Sciences or Professor Matthew Jones, Head of Chemistry. Please ensure applications are submitted via the University’s online system. Alongside the online form, upload a full CV. This is a full-time role (36.5 hours per week). Interviews for this position will take place on 22 and 23 June 2026 (a 2-day process). We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive working environment for all staff, including mentorship and flexible working arrangements. The Departments of Life Science, Chemistry and the University currently hold Athena SWAN Silver awards, and we are working to further improve equality, diversity and inclusion for the benefit of all staff. If you would like to discuss any issues or other aspects of the working environment with a member of staff who is not involved in the recruitment process, please contact Prof Stephen Husbands, Director of Research in the Department of Life Sciences.
What we can offer you:
We’re continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us, and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:
- Free counselling services through Health Assured
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Staff discount at Team Bath gym
- Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
- Staff discount on language courses
- Generous employer contributory pension schemes
- Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work-life balance
- A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities, including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
- Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
- Local discounts and more
- A family-friendly workplace
- An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
- Relocation allowance
- Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses
Find out more about our benefits on our website and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work, as well as following us on X and LinkedIn.
Right to Work in the UK: We do not assess immigration or right to work status until offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship, and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.
Anonymous shortlisting: We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.
Chair in Drug Discovery in Bath employer: University of Bath
Contact Detail:
University of Bath Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chair in Drug Discovery in Bath
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Bath or in the drug discovery field. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the Centre for Drug Discovery and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how they can contribute to their innovative environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your collaborative spirit! During interviews, highlight your experience working across disciplines. They’re looking for someone who can bring together chemists, biologists, and data scientists, so make sure to share relevant examples.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Bath and contributing to the exciting work in drug discovery.
We think you need these skills to ace Chair in Drug Discovery in Bath
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for drug discovery shine through! We want to see how your passion aligns with our mission at Bath and how you can contribute to the Centre for Drug Discovery.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your relevant experience in drug discovery. We’re looking for a strong track record, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements and how they relate to the role!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Use bullet points where necessary to make your key points stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application via our online system! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised on our end.
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Bath
✨Know Your Research Inside Out
Make sure you can discuss your research in drug discovery with confidence. Be prepared to explain how your work aligns with the Centre for Drug Discovery's goals and how it can contribute to therapeutic innovation.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Highlight your experience in interdisciplinary collaboration. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked with chemists, biologists, or data scientists in the past, as this role requires a strong commitment to teamwork across various fields.
✨Prepare for Teaching Scenarios
Since teaching is part of the role, think about how you would approach lecturing on drug discovery topics. Prepare a brief outline of a lecture or lab class you could deliver, showcasing your ability to engage students and maintain high teaching standards.
✨Engage with Industry Insights
Demonstrate your understanding of the industry landscape and how your research can translate into real-world applications. Be ready to discuss any connections you have with industry networks and how they could benefit the Centre for Drug Discovery.