Lead Structural Biologist for Drug Discovery & Cryo-EM

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability coverage

Generous paid time off

Professional development support

State-of-the-art research facility in/

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Structural Biologist to join our biotechnology client in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. You will lead projects to determine high-resolution structures of biomolecules using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and NMR, guiding experimental design and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The role requires a PhD and at least 7 years of relevant experience, with a strong track record in structure determination, data analysis, and publication.

Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biophysics, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in determining macromolecular structures.
• Hands-on experience in X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM, including data collection, processing, and structure solution/refinement.
• Proficiency with software for data analysis, structure determination, and visualization.
• Strong understanding of protein biochemistry, molecular biology, and biophysics.
• Experience with NMR spectroscopy is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a rigorous scientific approach.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to determine high-resolution structures of target proteins using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and/or NMR.
• Optimize protein expression and purification strategies to obtain suitable material for structural studies.
• Solve and refine 3D structures, analyze structural data, and interpret findings in the context of biological function.
• Utilize computational tools for structure visualization, analysis, and modeling.
• Collaborate closely with computational chemists, biochemists, and biologists to integrate structural information into drug discovery programs.
• Lead structural biology efforts on key projects, guiding experimental design and troubleshooting.
• Mentor and supervise junior scientists and research associates.
• Author and co-author high-impact publications in leading scientific journals.
• Present research findings at international scientific meetings.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements and technological innovations in structural biology and related fields.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and direction of structural biology research within the company.

Skills

X-ray crystallography

cryo-EM

NMR spectroscopy

Protein biochemistry

Molecular biology

Biophysics

Leadership

Mentoring

Publications

Education

PhD in Structural Biology

PhD in Biophysics

PhD in Biochemistry

PhD in related field

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Structural Biologist to join our biotechnology client in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. You will lead projects to determine high-resolution structures of biomolecules using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and NMR, guiding experimental design and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The role requires a PhD and at least 7 years of relevant experience, with a strong track record in structure determination, data analysis, and publication.