Lead Biophysicist — Structural Biology & Drug Discovery

Placements24; George; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Generous leave & holidays

Leadership development

Access to advanced facilities

Relocation assistance

Conference support

Wellness programs

Job summary

Placements24 in George, Western Cape, seeks a visionary Lead Biophysicist to spearhead the structural analysis division. You will lead biophysical experiments (X-ray, cryo-EM, NMR) to elucidate structures of proteins and small molecules, driving drug discovery and development in a collaborative, world-class team.

You will mentor researchers, manage timelines and resources, and contribute to high-impact publications while ensuring safety and strategic alignment with the company’s R&D goals.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biophysics, Structural Biology, Biochemistry or closely related field.
• 8+ years of post-doctoral experience in biophysics & structural biology.
• Hands-on with X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR.
• Expertise in SPR, ITC, CD spectroscopy & fluorescence spectroscopy.
• Proven leadership in guiding and building a scientific team.
• Strong protein expression, purification & characterization background.
• Proficiency in relevant data analysis software & modeling tools.
• Excellent communication and collaboration in fast-paced teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, execution & interpretation of biophysical experiments to define structure/function of biomolecules.
• Develop and implement novel biophysical methodologies (X-ray, cryo-EM, NMR, SPR, ITC).
• Oversee operation & maintenance of advanced biophysical instrumentation.
• Mentor and train a team of biophysicists and research associates in George, Western Cape.
• Collaborate with computational chemistry, structural biology & drug discovery teams.
• Contribute to publications and present findings at international conferences.
• Manage project timelines & resources for the biophysics department.
• Ensure adherence to lab safety protocols and best practices.
• Contribute to strategic direction of R&D efforts within the company.

Skills

X-ray crystallography

Cryo-EM

NMR spectroscopy

SPR

ITC

Protein expression & purification

Data analysis software & structural

Leadership & mentoring

Education

PhD in Biophysics, Structural Biology, Biochemistry or related

Tools

Software for data analysis & modeling

Job description

Placements24 in George, Western Cape, seeks a visionary Lead Biophysicist to spearhead the structural analysis division. You will lead biophysical experiments (X-ray, cryo-EM, NMR) to elucidate structures of proteins and small molecules, driving drug discovery and development in a collaborative, world-class team.

You will mentor researchers, manage timelines and resources, and contribute to high-impact publications while ensuring safety and strategic alignment with the company’s R&D goals.