Principal Medical Scientist (Biopharmaceutical)

ISR Recruitment Ltd; Oxford; On-site; GBP 94,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

ISR Recruitment Ltd is supporting a leading organisation in Oxford to appoint a Principal Scientist in Immunology with a focus on inflammation and autoimmune disease.

The role combines hands-on laboratory work with team leadership to advance early discovery programs and deliver robust preclinical data. A PhD and 5+ years of relevant experience are required, with publication record and CRO coordination experience valued.

Qualifications

• PhD in Immunology or closely related field with substantial research experience.
• Strong expertise in immunology, autoimmune disease pathogenesis and inflammation research.
• Proven experience in drug discovery, target identification and therapeutic development.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a laboratory-based scientific team.
• Design and oversee in vitro pharmacology assays to investigate autoimmune mechanisms and antibody discovery.
• Plan and coordinate in vivo efficacy studies with CROs and internal teams.
• Develop endpoint analysis and ex vivo profiling to understand drug mechanisms of action.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across immunology, protein engineering, chemistry, biomarkers and translational medicine.
• Identify novel targets and technologies to strengthen the preclinical pipeline.
• Contribute to research reports, IND documentation, patents and publications.

Skills

Immunology

Inflammation research

Drug discovery

Team leadership

Education

PhD in Immunology

Job description

• Principal Scientist - Inflammation Research
• Location: Oxford
• Contract: 12 months
• Rate: £68.00 to £71.00 per hour/£520 to £532.50 per day (via Umbrella)

The Opportunity:

ISR Recruitment is supporting a leading organisation seeking an experienced Principal Scientist in Immunology to lead scientific research supporting the discovery and development of novel biologic therapies for autoimmune diseases.

This is an exciting opportunity for a scientifically driven leader to combine hands-on research expertise with team leadership, advancing early-stage discovery programmes and delivering robust preclinical data to support progression towards development.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor and develop a talented laboratory-based scientific team.
• Design and oversee rigorous in vitro pharmacology assays to investigate autoimmune disease mechanisms and support therapeutic antibody discovery.
• Plan and coordinate in vivo efficacy studies, working with internal teams and contract research organisations (CROs).
• Develop endpoint analysis and ex vivo profiling to understand drug mechanisms of action.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across immunology, protein engineering, chemistry, biomarkers and translational medicine.
• Identify novel targets, therapeutic approaches and technologies to strengthen the preclinical pipeline.
• Contribute to research reports, IND documentation, patent filings, publications and conference presentations.

Skills and Experience:

• PhD in Immunology or a closely related scientific discipline, with at least five years' relevant research experience.
• Strong expertise in immunology, autoimmune disease pathogenesis and inflammation research.
• Proven experience in drug discovery, target identification and therapeutic development, ideally within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Broad technical capability across cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo immunology assays and models.
• Demonstrable scientific leadership, team mentoring and a strong publication record.