Principal Scientist (Mechanistic Pharmacology)

cancerresearchuk; Babraham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 12% pension contribution

Income protection

Job summary

Cancer Research UK in Cambridge seeks a Principal Scientist to lead mechanistic pharmacology within the Cellular Pharmacology team. You will design and run cellular assays to profile SAR/SKR of small molecules, helping inform dose and clinical efficacy while guiding project strategy and mentoring junior scientists.

The role combines laboratory leadership with collaboration across industry and academia, embracing innovative approaches and contributing to CRUK's mission to beat cancer.

Qualifications

• BSc/MSc/PhD in biological science (or equivalent).
• Significant experience in drug discovery and characterising targets with small molecules.
• Theoretical and practical pharmacology knowledge and drug–target interactions.
• Expertise in assay development across quantitative cell-based technologies.
• Desirable experience with microscopy/imaging in pharmacology.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership and ability to guide others.
• Experience in mentoring line reports and building external reputation.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and run cellular assays to profile SAR/SKR of small molecules.
• Characterise mechanism of action to inform dose-prediction and efficacy.
• Lead project strategy and drive high-quality science across programs.
• Champion innovative methods and present findings at conferences.

Skills

Quantitative cellular pharmacology

Assay development

Microscopy/imaging

Project leadership

Strategic direction

Cross-functional collaboration

Public speaking / conferences

Education

BSc/MSc/PhD in biological science

Job description

Principal Scientist, Mechanistic Pharmacology

Salary: £50,400-£64,000 per annum depending on experience plus benefits (includes up to 12% pension contribution and income protection)

Reports to: Group Leader - Mechanistic Pharmacology

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week (other flexible-working requests will also be considered if it meets business needs)

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge (lab based with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site).

Closing date: Tuesday 27th February 23:55pm

Recruitment process: Initial screening call via MS Teams, followed by on-site F2F assessment for successful candidates.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are looking for a talented scientific leader with significant experience in pre-clinical cellular pharmacology within an industrial drug discovery setting to join our Mechanistic Pharmacology group as a Principal Scientist.

As the world's biggest medical research charity, we've helped bring fourteen new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.

Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) is CRUK's internal translation engine. CRUK's established drug discovery teams operate under one organisation and leadership team. Our unique combination of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK's world-class academic network, coupled with cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise enables us to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success.

Based at sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs ~180 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds.

What will you be doing?

Our strategy sets out to bring deeper mechanistic understanding at the molecular and cellular level to all stages of projects, from idea to pre-clinical candidate.

This role is focussed on designing, developing and running of cellular assays to identify, profile and characterise the SAR/SKR of small molecules therapeutics, as well as the bespoke characterisation of their mechanism of action to inform dose-prediction and clinical efficacy. As a Principal Scientist within the Cellular Pharmacology team, you will be a senior scientific leader, driving project strategy, influencing decision-making, and helping to shape the future direction of the group.

The successful candidate will champion innovative ways of working by staying at the forefront of advances in cellular pharmacology techniques and applying emerging techniques to drug discovery challenges. We actively encourage colleagues to share and celebrate our science through conference attendance, poster and oral presentations, and publications. This role offers the opportunity to play an integral part in the Cancer Research Horizon Drug Discovery, working closely with industry and academic partners to progress novel cancer targets towards patient benefit.

(Please check the additional job description located in the application form to view the full list of responsibilities).

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative scientific leader who can shape project direction, influence decision-making, and drive high‑quality science. You will be passionate about developing others, fostering a culture of excellence, and delivering impactful outcomes in a fast‑paced drug discovery environment.

You will also bring:

• A BSc, MSc or PhD in biological science; relevant experience can be substituted for education
• Significant experience in a drug discovery environment of characterising targets and their modulation by small molecules through quantitative cellular pharmacology, including a kinetic context
• Demonstrated theoretical and practical understanding of pharmacology and drug‑target interactions
• Expertise in assay development across a range of quantitative cell‑based assay technologies, with the ability to input across multiple projects both at the lab bench and intellectually
• Significant experience of using microscopy/imaging in a quantitative pharmacology setting would be highly desirable
• Demonstrated scientific leadership skills with ability to give strategic direction
• Experience of managing the performance and development of line reports
• Credible external reputation, as evidenced though publication, presentation at key conferences, and a strong personal network

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We're looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat ca