Drug Discovery Scientist: Innovative Research & Impact

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary reviews

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Research facilities

Conferences

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to contribute to groundbreaking drug discovery programs in George, Western Cape. You will identify and validate novel therapeutic targets and advance candidates from early discovery through preclinical development within a multidisciplinary team.

The role requires expertise in molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related field, with hands-on experience in assay development, data analysis, and collaboration across science teams.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related life science.
• Experience in drug discovery with a strong publication record.
• Experience with in vivo models and PK/PD studies is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and teamwork in a fast-paced research environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute in vitro and in vivo experiments to assess efficacy and safety of novel drug candidates.
• Utilize molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry techniques to explore disease mechanisms.
• Analyze data, interpret results, and present findings to project teams and senior management.
• Develop new assays and screening platforms for high-throughput drug discovery.
• Collaborate with chemists, pharmacologists, and other scientists to drive project progression.
• Maintain lab notebooks and contribute to publications and patent applications.

Skills

Experimental techniques

Publications

Team collaboration

Data interpretation

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmacology / Molecular Biology / Biochemistry

Tools

In vivo models

PK/PD studies

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to contribute to groundbreaking drug discovery programs in George, Western Cape. You will identify and validate novel therapeutic targets and advance candidates from early discovery through preclinical development within a multidisciplinary team.

The role requires expertise in molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related field, with hands-on experience in assay development, data analysis, and collaboration across science teams.