Screening Scientist II

Cambrex Corporation; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading CDMO is seeking a Solid Form Scientist in Edinburgh. You will conduct solid form screening on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to ensure compliance and quality. The ideal candidate will have a BSc or higher in chemistry and at least 2 years of experience in a pharmaceutical environment. Responsibilities include working with technical teams to develop optimal solid forms and ensuring adherence to safety policies. Benefits include a comprehensive package in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous vacation and sick time

Retirement savings plan

Qualifications

• Essential experience in pharmaceutical, contract research, or R&D environments.
• Experience with small and/or large molecules.
• Practical laboratory experience using wet chemistry techniques.

Responsibilities

• Conduct solid form screening projects with technical excellence.
• Facilitate project closures efficiently while maintaining compliance.
• Collaborate with technical teams across the pharmaceutical industry.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to learn new skills

Problem-solving skills

Organizational planning

Commercial awareness

Knowledge of pharmaceutical development

Knowledge of polymorphism

Ability to discuss technical data

Safety adherence

Education

BSc (Hons) in chemistry or related

2+ years industrial experience

Tools

XRPD

DSC

TGA

Single crystal X-ray diffraction

Job description

Company Information

Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides drug substance, drug product, and analytical services across the entire drug lifecycle. With over 40 years of experience and a growing team of over 2,200 experts servicing global clients from North America and European sites, Cambrex is a trusted partner in branded and generic markets for API and dosage form development and manufacturing.

At Cambrex, our people set us apart. We’re committed to attracting, nurturing, and retaining a passionate and talented team of valued experts in our fast‑paced and growing company. We offer an exceptional benefits package including medical, dental, vision, Life, LTD, generous vacation in your first year, sick time, and retirement savings!

Known for our scientific and manufacturing excellence, as well as our strong customer focus, we offer a range of career opportunities across our global network of locations. Together with our customers, we aim to improve the quality of life for patients around the world.

Job Overview

Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides drug substance development and manufacturing across the entire drug lifecycle, as well as comprehensive analytical and IND enabling services.

With over 40 years of experience and a team of 2,000 experts servicing global clients from North America and Europe, Cambrex offers a range of specialized drug substance technologies and capabilities, including continuous flow, controlled substances, liquid‑phase peptide synthesis, solid‑state science, material characterization, and highly potent APIs.

As a solid form scientist based in Edinburgh, you will, together with our clients across the pharmaceutical industry, participate in the discovery and selection of the most important solid forms of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to take into the next stage of development.

You will work with small and large molecules to identify optimal solid forms to move the API further along the development pipeline. You will form an important part of our technical team and will work at the cutting‑edge in a fast‑paced and rewarding environment. You will demonstrate the highest technical standards, while maintaining compliance to quality and safety systems.

Responsibilities

• The main purpose of the Solid Form Scientist is to carry out solid form screening projects to the highest technical standards, on the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for clients of Cambrex. Also, to facilitate closure of projects with minimal lead‑time, whilst maintaining compliance to quality and safety systems, so that clients can progress development of their product / API.

Qualifications / Skills

• An enthusiastic team player with excellent communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills and techniques.
• Application of knowledge to solve complex problems.
• Demonstrate high levels of motivation and the organizational planning tools to manage workload across multiple projects.
• Be commercially aware of business development needs.
• Knowledgeable of the pharmaceutical development continuum of APIs.
• Knowledge of polymorphism, salt / co‑crystal screening, and peptide crystallization screening (essential).
• Ability to discuss complex technical data clearly and succinctly (essential).
• Ability to work safely in a lab environment, adhering to local SHE policies (essential).
• Experience of working independently and within a team in an R&D environment, within ISO9001 and / or cGMP quality standards (essential).

Education, Experience & Licensing Requirements

• BSc (Hons), Masters in chemistry, PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering or related discipline (essential).
• 2+ years industrial experience in a pharmaceutical company / contract research organization.

Experience of working with small molecules and / or large molecules (peptide fragments, cyclic and linear peptides) and other complex modalities (essential).

Practical experience in a laboratory setting using wet chemistry techniques (essential).

Experience / knowledge of solid‑state analytical techniques XRPD, DSC, TGA / DSC, microscopy, DVS, single crystal X‑ray diffraction) and more general spectroscopic NMR, FT‑IR, Raman) (essential).

Experience using automated screening platforms (desirable)

• Experience in working independently and within a team in an R&D environment.
• Experience with working safely in a lab environment and adhering to local SHE policies.
• Able to participate in client meetings and discuss technical data clearly and succinctly.

Success Factors

• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Be well organised and able to manage high workloads.
• Able to meet deadlines and plan one’s own work effectively.
• Possess excellent problem‑solving skills.
• Be commercially aware of business development needs.
• Knowledgeable of the pharmaceutical development continuum of APIs.

Cambrex Edinburgh is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this job role, applicants must be able to provide proof of their right to work in the UK.

Cambrex is an Equal Opportunity / Affidaviate Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.