Pharmaceutical Research Scientist - Drug Discovery

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Generous paid time off

State-of-the-art laboratory facilities

Competitive salary

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Pharmaceutical Research Scientist to contribute to drug discovery and development in Upington, Northern Cape. You will design experiments, analyze data, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to advance promising candidates through the pipeline.

The role requires a Ph.D. or Master’s in a life sciences field and 3–5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience with strong lab techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication skills.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Biology, or related life science.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of post-doctoral or industrial research experience in pharma/biotech.
• Proven expertise in cell culture, molecular biology, assay development and related techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a track record of scientific achievement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present complex data clearly.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret complex experiments related to drug discovery and development.
• Investigate novel targets and develop approaches to drug design and synthesis.
• Analyze experimental data using appropriate statistical methods and present findings clearly.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and contribute to publications and patents.
• Collaborate with scientists, project managers, and external partners to advance programs.
• Stay abreast of latest literature and technological advancements in therapeutic areas.

Skills

Cell culture

Molecular biology

Assay development

Synthetic chemistry

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. or Master's in Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Biology, or related life sciences

Tools

Cell culture techniques

Molecular biology techniques

Assay development platforms

Synthetic chemistry methods

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Pharmaceutical Research Scientist to contribute to drug discovery and development in Upington, Northern Cape. You will design experiments, analyze data, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to advance promising candidates through the pipeline.

The role requires a Ph.D. or Master’s in a life sciences field and 3–5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience with strong lab techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication skills.