Pharma Research Scientist: Target Discovery & Preclinical

Placements24; George; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement savings plans

Continued learning opportunities

Relocation assistance

Supportive company culture

Job summary

Placements24 in George is seeking a Pharmaceutical Research Scientist to join its drug discovery unit. You will design and execute experiments to advance preclinical programs, validate targets, and contribute to lead compound development, driving innovative therapeutic strategies.

Applicants should have a PhD in a life sciences field and 3–5 years of post‑doctoral or industry experience, with strong communication skills and a track record of publication or presentations.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or related life science discipline.
• Minimum of 3–5 years post‑doc or industry experience in drug discovery.
• Experience designing and conducting complex biological assays relevant to oncology, immunology, or infectious diseases.
• Strong understanding of target validation, hit-to-lead, and preclinical development.
• Hands-on experience with cell-based assays, primary cell culture, flow cytometry, Western blotting, ELISA, and screening platforms.
• Excellent communication and ability to publish or present findings.

Responsibilities

• Design, optimize, and execute in vitro and ex vivo assays to evaluate drug efficacy and safety.
• Identify and validate novel drug targets using molecular biology and biochemical techniques.
• Contribute to lead generation and characterization with medicinal chemistry teams.
• Analyze complex data and make recommendations for project progression.
• Develop new scientific methodologies to enhance research capabilities.
• Collaborate with discovery biology, preclinical development, and clinical research teams.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and publications to communicate findings.
• Stay updated with latest literature and tech advancements.
• Maintain meticulous lab records and comply with safety/regulatory guidelines.
• Contribute to strategic planning and direction of drug discovery projects.

Skills

Analytical

Problem-solving

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmacology / Molecular Biology / Cell Biology / Biochemistry

Tools

Flow cytometry

Western blotting

ELISA

Screening platforms

Job description

Placements24 in George is seeking a Pharmaceutical Research Scientist to join its drug discovery unit. You will design and execute experiments to advance preclinical programs, validate targets, and contribute to lead compound development, driving innovative therapeutic strategies.

Applicants should have a PhD in a life sciences field and 3–5 years of post‑doctoral or industry experience, with strong communication skills and a track record of publication or presentations.