Medicinal Chemist

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Professional development opportunities

Publication support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a creative Medicinal Chemist to join their Upington drug discovery team. You will design and synthesize novel small molecules and perform SAR analyses to optimize leads, collaborating with biologists and computational chemists.

The role requires a PhD in organic/medicinal chemistry and 5+ years of relevant experience, with opportunities to publish and contribute to patents in a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry required.
• Minimum 5 years of post‑doc or industry experience in medicinal chemistry.
• Proven expertise in modern organic synthesis and complex molecule synthesis.
• Experience in SAR analysis and structure‑based drug design.
• Familiarity with computational chemistry tools is a plus.
• Strong problem‑solving, creativity and collaborative work style.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecule drug candidates.
• Plan multi-step organic syntheses with purification and characterization.
• Conduct SAR studies to optimize lead compounds.
• Collaborate with biologists and computational chemists to define goals.
• Utilize NMR, MS, HPLC and other analytical methods for characterization.
• Maintain notebooks and contribute to publications and patents.

Skills

SAR analysis

Organic synthesis

Drug design principles

Collaboration with biologists

Computational chemistry tools

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Molecular modeling

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a creative and experienced Medicinal Chemist to join their drug discovery team in Upington. You will be instrumental in the design and synthesis of novel small molecules with therapeutic potential, contributing to the early-stage discovery of new medicines. This role requires a strong command of organic synthesis, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis, and an understanding of drug discovery principles. Join a dynamic and collaborative research environment focused on innovation, contributing to the development of groundbreaking pharmaceutical compounds and working towards the discovery of new therapies for unmet medical needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecule drug candidates targeting specific biological pathways.
• Plan and execute multi-step organic synthesis projects, including purification and characterization of synthesized compounds.
• Conduct structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize lead compounds for potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties.
• Collaborate closely with biologists and computational chemists to define project goals and design synthetic strategies.
• Utilize modern synthetic methodologies and analytical techniques (NMR, MS, HPLC) for compound characterization.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and contribute to patent applications and scientific publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in medicinal chemistry within the pharmaceutical or biotech sector.
• Proven expertise in modern organic synthesis techniques and a strong track record of synthesizing complex molecules.
• Experience in structure-based drug design and SAR analysis.
• Familiarity with computational chemistry tools and techniques is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, creativity, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Relocation assistance may be provided for qualified candidates.
• Opportunities for professional development and scientific engagement.
• A stimulating research environment in Upington focused on cutting-edge drug discovery.
• Retirement savings plan.