Senior Scientist, Structural Biology, 2 year Fixed Term Contract

About Vernalis

Working within our fully equipped research laboratories in Cambridge, our established group of scientists are world leaders in multiple hit-ID technologies and structure-based drug discovery. Our scientists leverage cutting-edge lead generation and structure-based design to unlock new possibilities in drug discovery, advancing innovative compounds towards development candidates across diverse therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurodegeneration, anti-infectives and inflammation.

The Role – job Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist in structural biology to support our drug discovery programs. Your expertise in protein crystallography will be instrumental in solving multiple ligand-bound protein structures, understanding protein-ligand interactions to accelerate the identification and optimization of high-quality lead compounds. This is a hands-on role covering the full spectrum of a protein crystallography study including construct design, protein crystallisation, crystallographic data collection, structure solution and refinement, structural analysis, and reporting. You will contribute to hit-identification and validation strategies and help enable high-throughput structure-determination workflows. You will collaborate across multiple disciplines including computational chemistry, biophysics, and medicinal chemistry teams with both internal and external collaborators and play a key part in shaping research directions and advancing structure-guided drug discovery projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Use protein crystallography to solve high-resolution apo and ligand-bound structures of protein targets.
• Identify potential binding sites, interpret ligand-binding mechanisms, and optimise small-molecule interactions with protein targets.
• Identify starting points for drug development.
• Design, execute and interpret high-throughput crystallography screens of compound libraries, followed by optimisation and hit expansion.
• Integrate structural insights into the wider drug discovery pipeline, working closely with medicinal chemistry, biophysics and computational biology teams.
• Provide structural rationale for the design and modification of small molecules that target key proteins involved in disease.
• Stay at the forefront of new structural biology methodologies, particularly in ligand binding and FBDD.
• Develop and optimise protocols to increase throughput, improve structural data quality and streamline workflows.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and external partners across drug discovery projects.
• Present project data, scientific interpretation and strategy internally and to external collaborators.
• Represent Vernalis at scientific conferences.
• Assist in the training and supervision of students and junior team members.

About You

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biophysics or a related field, with postdoctoral or industrial experience in drug discovery and structural biology techniques, particularly in relation to protein–ligand interactions and fragment-based drug discovery.
• Experience in high-throughput crystallographic screens and the use of advanced software, such as COOT, CCP4i2, PanDDA, to determine and refine large numbers of protein-ligand complexes.
• Experience in rapid fitting of ligands to density maps, with consideration of ligand occupancy states and alternative conformation analysis.
• Strong understanding of ligand chemistry including ligand geometries, low-energy conformations, chirality, protonation and tautomeric states, and bond orders.
• Experience in protein crystallisation screening experiments using robotics and commercial crystallisation screens.
• Experience in protein-ligand complex formation by co-crystallisation and soaking experiments, including cryoprotectant determination and cryo-freezing for in-house and synchrotron data collection.
• Experience in protein construct design for crystallisation studies.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced research environment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and project-management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience of cryo-EM sample preparation and data analysis.
• Familiarity with protein expression, purification, and characterization workflows.
• Computational skills for integrating structural data with molecular modelling, docking, and simulation techniques to drive drug design efforts.
• Experience applying deep Learning approaches to data analysis.

Skills and competencies

Essential:

• Strong hands-on experimental capability and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent data-analysis and scientific-interpretation skills.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights.
• Effective communication across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organisation and time-management skills.
• Ability to balance laboratory work with project delivery.
• Ability to influence project direction through high-quality scientific insight.

Desirable:

• Leadership and mentoring experience.
• Demonstratable ability to innovate.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to play a key role in advancing drug discovery through cutting-edge structural biology.
• A collaborative, cross-functional environment with talented scientists across structural biology, medicinal chemistry, biophysics and computational biology.
• Access to well-equipped laboratories, advanced technologies and a range of drug discovery approaches.
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth within a dynamic and growing drug discovery organisation.
• Career development in an international research environment.
• Competitive salary, flexible working arrangements and a supportive, inclusive work culture.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including private healthcare, pension contributions and generous holiday entitlement.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation for the role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged. Vernalis is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.