SI/0825 - Sustaining Innovation Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Astex Pharmaceuticals; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Cambridge is seeking candidates for three Sustaining Innovation postdoctoral research positions. The roles involve developing novel technologies for fragment screening, utilizing X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to enhance oncology drug discovery. Ideal candidates will hold a Ph.D. and have experience in relevant scientific fields. Competitive salary and hybrid working options are offered.

Benefits

Highly competitive salary

Career development opportunities

Flexible working environment

Qualifications

• One or more years of postdoctoral experience is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of innovation and complex problem-solving through high-impact publications.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capability to plan and execute independent research objectives.
• Strong team-work skills in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to communicate across diverse scientific disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Develop novel technologies for fragment screening.
• Characterize cross-linked protein - fragment complexes.
• Collaborate across scientific disciplines.

Skills

synthetic organic chemistry

protein mass spectrometry

covalent fragment screening

cell-based chemoproteomics

biophysical methods

protein expression and purification

X-ray crystallography

single particle cryo-electron microscopy

Education

Ph.D. in an appropriate subject area

Job description

Overview

Astex Pharmaceuticals is a world leader in innovative drug discovery and development. The company has successfully applied its proprietary Fragment-Based Drug Discovery platform to generate multiple new drug candidates that are progressing in clinical development. Successful collaborations have led to three launched oncology drugs (Kisqali partnered with Novartis, Balversa partnered with Janssen and Truqap partnered with AstraZeneca). Astex continues to grow and focuses on Neurological Disorders and Oncology.

The role

We are excited to offer three Sustaining Innovation postdoctoral research positions to help drive the next evolution of this platform. The successful candidates will work together as a team to develop novel technologies for fragment screening, potentially leveraging covalent approaches through a range of crosslinking chemistries and applying to both recombinant proteins and cellular systems. A defining aspect of the project will be high resolution structural characterization of cross-linked protein - fragment complexes using our state-of-the-art resources in X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The project will explore the potential for such fragments to identify novel sites on challenging protein targets (e.g. cryptic pockets) and explore their biological relevance.

The project requires expertise and collaboration across a range of scientific disciplines; hence applications are invited from candidates specialising in the fields of chemical biology and protein structure determination. We are looking for creative and highly motivated scientists with expertise in a selection of the following subject areas: synthetic organic chemistry, protein mass spectrometry, covalent fragment screening, cell-based chemoproteomics, biophysical methods, protein expression and purification, X-ray crystallography, single particle cryo-electron microscopy.

Astex would be happy to hear from candidates having innovative project proposals that fall within the overall remit described above, and candidates are welcome to outline their ideas or motivation in a maximum one-page summary as part of their application.

Qualifications and Experience

• Ph.D. in an appropriate subject area as defined above. One or more years of postdoctoral experience is highly desirable.


• Innovation and Problem-Solving: Proven track record of innovation, scientific rigour and complex problem-solving is essential, as evidenced by publication of research articles in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.


• Communication Skills: The candidate is expected to have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and a proven track record of science communication at national and international conferences.


• Independent Research: Capability to independently plan and execute research objectives is essential.


• Team Collaboration: Strong team-work skills and a desire to work collaboratively within a dynamic multidisciplinary environment.


• Cross-disciplinary Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with scientists from various disciplines and work proficiently across dynamic academic and industrial research environments.

About the Sustaining Innovation Post Doctoral (SIPD) Program

The Program aims to maintain and further enhance the Company's excellent scientific culture. This is an opportunity to join a diverse and dynamic team exploring new ideas that are relevant to and may enhance our drug discovery approach. We employ high calibre PhD scientists who perform cutting-edge research in an innovative and dynamic research environment. Postdoctoral Research Associates are expected to perform exploratory research as part of a multi-disciplinary team and publish in high impact scientific journals. We have a strong track record of SIPD collaborations with internationally leading academic and industrial research institutions.

For more information on the Program, please visit .

Why Astex

We offer excellent training and career development opportunities as well as highly competitive salary and benefits package including hybrid working options to promote a flexible and inclusive work environment.

At Astex we embrace diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse Company representing all backgrounds, harnessing industry-leading scientific innovation and behaviours.

More Information

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